WHERE ARE THE CLOWNS? an audio interview series featuring clowns from all around the world

“When humans become aware of their own stupidity, that’s when wisdom first appears.”– Shahabuddin Rathod, Indian Gujarati scholar and humorist

This sentiment goes straight to the heart of clowning. To be truly human is to be ridiculous and there is deep insight to be found when we embrace that ridiculousness.

Versions of the “wise fool” exist in cultures all over the world. While they may not always be called “clowns,” almost every culture has figures who expose truth through play, laughter, and the freedom to look foolish. Yet contemporary clowning is often associated with European theatre lineages or the American circus. In places like my own home of Mumbai, clowns seem few compared to hotspots like Paris or Barcelona.

This paradox drives Where Are the Clowns? – a project born through the Clown Spirit Fellowship - to uncover local expressions of this universal art form.

I set out to find people practising clowning in places where it isn’t yet widely popular. What drives them to clown? How do they do it? What responses do they receive?

My curiosity stemmed from returning to India after studying clowning with teachers in Europe. I came back full of enthusiasm to share this work, only to feel alone and disillusioned by the lack of clowning culture around me. I wondered if others felt the same isolation.

Through this series, I hoped to meet more experienced artists, learn what inspired them, and discover how they overcame cultural barriers to keep clowning alive.

What I found was illuminating. Beneath the apparent absence, clowning is alive and thriving in many places. Global clowning may draw some inspiration from European and American traditions, but it is growing in response to culturally specific conditions and rooted in the universal wisdom of embracing our human foolishness.

Where are the Clowns Trailer (4 mins)

Below is a trailer to give you a better sense of the series and some of the Clown wisdom that comes through.

Featured Conversations

These conversations will be released bi-weekly over the next few months. You can check out the first episode with Mery Miguez here.

With Mery Miguez (Argentina) We explored how clowning is like tennis – every ball on the court, like every look from an audience member, is an opportunity to listen and play. She shared how clowning techniques support her coaching work and create belonging for people who have always felt deep emotions.

With Sukhmani Kohli (India) She spoke about not fitting in, and her journey to becoming a leader who creates safe spaces for others. This conversation was deeply inspiring and reassuring – knowing someone just an overnight train ride away is sharing clown spirit in such beautiful ways.

With Sabine Choucair (Lebanon) Her courage as a clown moved me deeply. She reminded us that clowns respond to the despair of war and authoritarianism not by withdrawing, but by putting on the nose, taking out their clown weapons, and using play and humanity to wage war against war itself.

With Rafa Gentileza (Brazil) Rafa spoke about growing up Black in Brazil, the lasting trauma of slavery, and the responsibility he feels as a clown to reduce pain, especially when working with children in hospitals. Despite needing a translator, this conversation restored my faith in humanity, reminding me that people everywhere are trying in their small ways to make the world better.

With Amruta Mapuskar (India) We traced her journey from growing up in an Indian village to travelling the world to understand herself and others through clowning. She is a major contributor to clowning in India, especially driven by her passion to amplify women clowns in a male-dominated field.

With Fif Fernandes (Canada/Tanzania/India) We delved into the healing power of clowning. Her journey spans Tanzania, Canada, and India, and her love for Clown Through Mask (or Baby Clown, as her teacher called it) shines through. She embodies love and openness, bringing joy to places that often need it most.

With Nada Elissa (Egypt) Our conversation explored her love-hate relationship with Cairo, clowning within a capitalist system, and how in times of war and oppression, it is our duty to clown and keep our hearts open.

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These conversations have expanded my understanding of what clowning can mean. I hope they do the same for you. It has been inspiring to witness how people, in both big and small ways, hold on to the red nose and share the wisdom of being ridiculously human in their communities.

Through this series, we hope to amplify the work of clowns in the Global South and other less represented spaces, to help clowning grow and spread through different parts of the world.

As you read this, we continue interviewing clowns in countries like South Africa and Eswatini.

We know there are many more practicing this art, against all odds, and we’re eager to hear their stories. The global Clown Spirit community has been instrumental in connecting us with new voices. If you know of a clown who would love to share their journey, please reach out and help us to connect.

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And if you want to deepen your Clown leadership skills and go on a creative and practical Clown learning journey with a cohort of other clowns, the Clown Spirit Fellowship might be a good next step.