‘I’m not really a clown’: critical reflection on a Clown Cabaret Scratch Night

摘要

This article is a critical reflection on the Clown Cabaret\udScratch Night at Assembly Roxy, 14 November 2014,\udorganised by Plutôt la Vie and CloWnStePPing. It considers\udthe variety of acts included in the show and how this\udplurality connects to the wider contemporary genre of\udtheatre clown. From a participant-observer perspective, I\udintroduce the tensions and contradictions in and between\udthe acts. I suggest that this event can provide a snapshot of\udhow the genre is currently perceived and practiced in\udScotland today. Of particular prominence are the role of the\ud‘flop’ in the clown’s relationship with the audience, the\udtension between rehearsal and spontaneity, and the\udconnection to the ‘authentic self ’ of the performer this\udimplies.