• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

Joseph Grimaldi Clown Memorial Service

February 6, 2016 by Tom Bailey Leave a Comment

joseph-grimaldi

Joseph Grimaldi by John Cawse

Joseph Grimaldi by John Cawse

The first Sunday of every February brings with it a gathering that would seem most peculiar to the residents of Haggerston. Every year in All Saints Church, just shy of one hundred clowns gather at the Joseph Grimaldi Memorial service, to honour his memory and celebrate their craft. Grimaldi, born in London in 1778, is considered the founding father of clowning, an art that remains well-loved, and widely practiced today.

If you can’t make the service, you can always visit his tomb, in the Joseph Grimaldi Park, Islington where visitors are encouraged to dance on his grave, as Grimaldi would have wished.

Grimaldi as Joey the Clown

Grimaldi as Joey the Clown

Hundreds of legends have built up around the famously taciturn Grimaldi, perhaps the most famous is about the depressed man visiting his doctor. The doctor tells the man he has a cure – Grimaldi, the funniest person in the world, is in town doing a show. All the depressive needs to do is buy a ticket and he’ll be cured of his depression. The man thanks the doctor – but looks completely devastated – “the only problem”, the man says, “is that I am Grimaldi”.

Our good friends at Finger in the Pie, have been inspired by the Grimaldi Memorial to publish a (by no means exhaustive) roundup of some of their favourite clowns working on the scene today. As clowns are notorious fans of all things topsy-turvy, our picks are listed in reverse-alphabetical order:

1. Spencer Jones @spendals

025_Spencer_Jones_story

After the success of his 2015 show Spencer Jones is the Herbert, Jones has been in demand from the likes of the BBC and various London venues. His brand of humour is side-splitting and silly, and one that has won the hearts of critics and fellow performers alike.

2. Sam Wills (aka The Boy with Tape on His Face) @TapeFaceBoy

boy-with-tape-on-his-face-more-tape-25342-300Originally hailing from New Zealand, Wills has firmly settled into the London fringe circuit and beyond. The Boy with Tape on His Face is simple, clever and charming, and completely impossible not to enjoy.

3. Phil Burgers (aka Dr. Brown) @drbrowncomedy

dr_brown

Doctor Brown is the stage persona of Philip Burgers, an American clown based in London. He has received critical acclaim in both hemispheres, winning the Fosters Comedy prize at the Edinburgh Fringe and at various venues across Australia.

4. Peta Lily @peta_lily

iuHuEV_Z

As well as creating award winning theatre, she also pioneers a unique body of research into the medium of Dark Clown. Her next solo show Imperfection will be performed this month in Winchester.

5. Marcello Magni @arcolabeautiful

WEB proof_t.CEP_6824 B&W 10x8 crop

Not only is Magni hailed as one of contemporary theatre’s greatest clowns, he also cofounded theatre company Complicite. He’s most recently performed at the London International Mime Festival, alongside Jos Houben, receiving praise from a variety of critics.

6. Leela Bunce @LeelaBunce

Waiting_For_Stanley_leela_bunce

Most recently, Bunce has toured Finger in the Pie’s acclaimed show Waiting For Stanley, though her talents stretch far beyond theatre. She learned her love of laughter through clown and now practices as a Laughter Consultant. Though she’s been off the scene for a little while, we hear there are exciting projects in the works, so definitely watch this space.

7. Kiki Lovechild @kikilovechild

Bu9PqlMV

Kiki is a multi-skilled silent clown, performing routines that have garnered him a huge fan base and following on the cabaret circuit. You might have seen him at our Mimetic Festival with his show The Weatherman. He is best known for his invention of Furlesque, his puppet burlesque show that has brought him to the the forefront of the London burlesque scene.

8. Frank Wurzinger @FrankWurzinger

welc copy

Wurzinger is a performer, clown and theatre maker. He has performed with a variety of companies and was our Sweeney Todd back in 2009. He has recently toured his own one-man clown show ‘The Confetti Maker’, receiving praise both in the UK and the US.  Frank is creating his second solo clown show and will premier it this spring.

9. Dot Cotton @Thedotcotton

Dot-Clown

Self-proclaimed “full time fool”, Cotton is vibrantly mischievous, emulating a classic vaudeville style of performance. She has performed to international acclaim alongside some of the major cabaret and circus headliners in the world.

10. Dan Lees @MrDanLees

dan-lees

Award winning clown Dan Lees, has been dubbed a “comedy genius” by the press. He has been at the heart of the resurgence of clown shows amidst the fringe theatre scene and will shortly be taking his show The Establishment internationally. When he’s not performing, he is sharing his craft by way of fantastic workshops.

Drop us a tweet and let us know who your favourite clowns are! If this list has piqued your interest, visit the Joseph Grimaldi Memorial Service this Sunday 7th at 3pm. If you’re feeling inspired, then book yourself on Dan Lee’s Discover Your Clown Workshop, and maybe you too can follow in Grimaldi’s footsteps.

Author: Tom BaileyTom is a theatre maker and writer based in London, England. He covers news and interviews for Theatre Bubble.
T: Twitter F: Facebook

Filed Under: Featured, Spotlight

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Plain Heroines talks SCRATCHES at VAULT Festival 2023

We spoke to director Gabrielle Bird from Plain Heroines about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their show SCRATCHES   Tell us [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Anthony Clark on SHE

Anthony Clark is the writer of SHE, a new show interweaving the stories of 14 different women in their twenties, [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Thick ‘n’ Fast talks General Secretary at VAULT Festival

We spoke to co-writers and performers Cassie Symes and Georgina Thomas about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their [Read More]

NEWS / Too Much World at Once tour announced

Set against a backdrop of the climate crisis, the debut from Papatango shortlisted writer Billie Collins is a lyrical coming [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Ian Nicholas talks The Elephant Song

Ian Nicholas is a theatre producer, running OnBook Theatre alongside director Jason Moore. He talks here about their next production, [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Willy Hudson on Welcome Home
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Yasmin Paige on Actually
  • The Role of Stage Manager in a Devising Company
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Katy Owen: How to Apply to Drama Schools*
  • Andy Kesson and Jimmy Tucker tell us about A Bit Lit
  • Art of Believing at The Space
  • Peter Kavanagh talks about Cyanide at 5
  • Alice Christina-Corrigan talks Past Life
  • Tom Bailey
    Editor

  • February 6th, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook130TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!