Clown School

Have you ever wanted to try clowning? To learn more about what clowning actually is?

Do you ever feel like you would like to escape being an adult & return to the blissful state of playing as a child? Life can be filled to the brim with responsibilities & trauma & something adult life can really lack is time to explore, express, emote & play. At Clown School – led by Reine Kelly – we carve out time to do just that.

Clowning encourages you to be present in your body and to take up as much or as little space as you desire. You have full permission to embrace the unbridled chaos within you whilst also being able to find a quiet stillness that slows you & those around you down. CLOWNING IS VAST! A SPECTRUM. Clowning welcomes with open arms THE SILLY THE STRANGE & THE MACABRE. Clowning invites you to EXPRESS the wide spectrum of emotions humans have the capacity to feel. Clowning says: Hey, LET GO! IT IS GOOD FOR YOU! PLAY! SEE WHAT HAPPENS! RELEASE! IT IS GOOD FOR YOU!

Together we will explore the vast history of clowning & celebrate clowns past & present

• Clowning for mental health / body & mind
• Clowning for community
• Clowning, politics & anarchy
• Clowning & movement
• Clowning skits
• Clowning & burlesque
• Clowning make-up & costume
• & so much more

Reine will support you to find your inner clown/s and share with you her beloved Clowns Daphne & Hugo & all they have done & continue to do for her.

RAISING FUNDS FOR: @uncle_tito_6 & his incredible charity: Colors Of Joy, who are providing much needed joy, care, play & psychological support to children in Gaza right now.

READING CLOWN SCHOOL CLOWNING FOR COLORS OF JOY INITIATIVE founded by Uncle Tito the Clown. The Intiative is providing children & families in Gaza glimmers of joy through entertainment, play & psychological support. The incredible human behind the Clown is 19 year old Mohammed, better known as Uncle Tito, who grew up with a passion for performance and circus arts. Today, he studies psychology while dreaming of bringing joy and comfort to children in Gaza and around the world. When the war reached Tito's neighborhood over two years ago, his home was destroyed and his family was displaced repeatedly. Despite this, Tito continues to show up for the children of Gaza, using the skills he loves to give them moments of happiness. Tito brings his performances to hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, and displaced families living among Gaza's rubble and tents. Through his energy and creativity, he gives children a chance to laugh, play, and simply be children again.

The human behind the Clown facilitating Clown School is Reine Kelly. Reine first discovered Clowning back in 2010 whilst studying at University & since then has developed two main Clown Characters: Daphne & Hugo who explore the intersections between Clowning & Neo Burlesque, Lip-sync, Performance Art & Story telling. Reine’s work is reflective of their experience of trauma & mental health. Reine is also the founder of The Reinettes, a Queer, Feminist & Anti Racist creative community who are based in Reading & Brighton. 

WHAT IS CLOWNING? 

Clowning is a style of performance that includes mediums such as circus skills, mime, physical theatre, slapstick & physical comedy, dance & movement, burlesque & drag & more. Storytelling is at the heart of Clowning. Clowning is expansive as an art form & it invites you PLAY, MOVE, EXPLORE, EXPRESS & EMOTE. 

WHY IS CLOWNING GOOD FOR YOU? 

• PLAY: is a stress reliever! Play is good for your brain & promotes cognitive function. Play connects you to self & others which in turn can cultivate JOY, LAUGHTER & CONNECTION. Play can take you out of your mind & bring you into your body. Play is a great way to explore & practise Improv & devising. 

• MOVEMENT: something I define as a privilege & don’t take for granted as a person who lives with chronic illness. Moving your body in anyway you are able & getting your heart rate up is a form of exercise. Movement invites you to be PRESENT IN YOUR BODY & to take up space. Life & all that comes with being human can often remove us from our bodies. Movement brings us back into our bodies & allows us to release built up tension & emotions. Adaptations will be made for different bodies & their abilities. 

• EXPLORE: Curiosity is at the heart of Clowning & being human. Clowning encourages you to practise being curious & to explore your inner & outer world, to interact & respond from a curious space. Curiosity & exploration can change how we interact, converse & experience ourselves & others. Clowning encourages you to explore your thoughts & ideas & to explore the emotions, ideas,  & responses of others. 

• EXPRESSION: is important for us humans. When we have space to express the vast spectrum of emotions we can experience as humans we can become more comfortable to manage & express emotion in a healthy way. Expressing yourself is a RELEASE & OUTLET which in turn can REDUCE ANXIETY & STRESS which improves emotional wellbeing. For those who are familiar with masking it can feel LIBERATING to give yourself permission to express emotions you are more uncomfortable experiencing & showing. 

• EMOTE: To emote is essential skill to learn when storytelling & connecting with others. When you emote feeling in others it is CONNECTING & CATHARTIC as it is a shared experience. It also breaths life & realism into what you are trying to express. The practise of being able to emote will also support you in emotional regulation as you build a resolve around being able to tolerate & respond to emotion. 

To conclude Clowning is GOOD FOR YOU & IT IS ALSO FOR A GOOD CAUSE. Two very important reasons to show up. 

Follow clownschool__reading & feel very welcome to reach out with any questions you may have.