In 1869 an american acrobat called Tom Belling was working in Circus Renz in Berlin. He was banned from the ring for three weeks for being incompetent through drink. He was larking about outside the ring entrance wearing a ringmaster’s costume inside out and a ginger wig back to front when he was spotted by [...]
Why humour and laughter is good for you… decreases or attenuates classical stress hormonal responses. there is a decrease in serum cortical, growth hormone, plasma epinephrine. There is no significant increase in serum prolactin, beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and plasma norephinephrine. increases salvary immunoglobulin A (slg A ) concentrations that protect against some viruses. It [...]
I was lucky enough to meet Michael Polokovs whilst on a clown course in the USA in 1999. I remember sitting on the porch of his log cabin, in the sunshine chatting to him about his career. He talked about his family, his memories of England where he lived and worked for most of his [...]
Look back in history and many of the great kings and rulers had a jester or fool at their side. The court jester was in a very privileged position. He could say anything he liked without fear of persecution. Some of these so called fools became very influential. Richard Tarlton, clown and jester, was said [...]