Don’t Call Me a Joker!

Martin D’souza wants to put a big red nose on everyone, including you. Clowning around isn’t just for circus folk, he says with a straight face. “I’m a BSC with an MBA in marketing, who’s chosen to be a full-time clown. And please don’t call me a “joker”, it’s really derogatory,” he warns.

After travelling the world to learn from funny and talented entertainers, he resolved not to be the only clown in the city. That explains the gaggle of clowns from Japan, US, Canada and South Africa who’ve followed Martin to Mumbai as part of the International Clown Festival 2010. With a series of fun events at this first-of-its kind gala, Martin’s gang of stilt-walking, skittle-juggling, balloon-sculpting folk hope to build a stylish, more evolved image for the Indian clown.

Put Clowning Around On Your CV

So what does it take to be a full time clown? A skill set that includes the art of make-up, pantomime, tight rope walking, unicycling, juggling, sleight of hand and physical comedy, among other things. And what does one do with these qualifications?  Start an event management company, design educational programmes for children, volunteer at hospitals and old age homes, and of course, make people happy. Or, you can just learn a set of perfectly useless but super fun skills that you could pull out from a sleeve to impress a date. Get her into those funny pants!  
Workshops held today and tomorrow (see time and venues here) will teach you how. 

Jest Remember

If you’d rather be an observer of the art, the International Clown Festival 2010 is also holding theatre shows on November 9 and 13 (see time and venues here): 100-minute spectacles complete with acrobatics, gags and comedy.

And just when you thought Mumbai couldn’t amuse you any further.

Getting there: The International Clown Festival 2010, call Vidhi on 9820644016, visit www.clownfestindia.com and book tickets on www.bookmyshow.com, on until November 14.