The role of the clown in todays society

The heart of the circus and centre of entertainment clowns are “divine spirits to rejoice and delight the heart” - according to a nine year old Egyptian Pharaoh. The comic spirit of clowning exists in just about every known culture and dates back to approximately 2270BC. When we think of clowns we think generally of the typical clown wearing big, baggy, bright clothing with vivid make up and a red nose however the clown has evolved through the ages into the clown we see in circuses and comedy shows today.

Early clowns portrayed everyone from soldiers, fools and witches to slaves and Greek Gods. Throughout the middle ages and early renaissance, Jesters or Fools perpetrated the art of clowning in the palaces of Kings and great nobles wearing bright coloured coats, hose and hooded caps topped with tiny bells which jingled every time the wearer moved.

Although many clowns entertained at court, the vast majority continued to be street performers. They were adapt to a vast majo...