Introduction to Clowning

* This Isn’t A Towel 5 Mins

Aims: Physicalising an idea, improvising, performing in front of others.

1. Stand in a circle.
2. Have a small towel ready as your prop.
3. Explain you are going to find different uses for this
   prop.
4. Teacher starts and says: “ This isn’t a towel it’s a . . .”
5. Then you will mime and say a different prop. It could be “This isn’t a towel, it’s a baby” whilst miming a baby or “This isn’t a towel, it’s a brush” whilst miming brushing your hair
6. Continue around the circle until everyone has had a turn.

* Finding Your Inner Clown 15 Mins

Aims: Unlocking your clown, performing in front of the group.

Now we are ready to find our clown.

1. 1. A bottle is put in the middle of the room.
   2. Participants start in the corner of the room.
   3. One at a time, they close their eyes and walk to where they think the bottle is, reach down and try to grab it.
   4. They can only reach down to grab once. It’s very unlikely many will be successful, but it’s fun to try.

This game is a good indication of what your clown is like.

Discussion:

Are their clowns confidently striding off or quite shy/hesitant/cautious? Are they angry/frustrated when they don’t get it or quite laid back?

* Creating Your Clown 5 Mins

Aims: Creating a character, focusing, physicalising an idea.

Ask the group to think of a name and an innocent secret their clown might have. For example: they pick their nose, they stole a biscuit from the biscuit jar, they didn’t clean their room.

Discussion:

How does this secret make them feel? Ashamed? Excited? Scared? Annoyed?