Coping with the fears of a clown (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Coping with the fears of a clown

8:00am Wednesday 30th June 2010 in Leisure By Cadisha Brown

A COLOURFUL circus will be rolling into Stourport with a fun packed show and therapy for people with clown phobia.

As well as attractions, including sword fighting pirates, trapeze artists, and wire walkers, there will also be comedy with the madcap routines of clowns Kakehole and Popol.

People with clown phobia are also being invited to the show for some “clowncelling”, when it rolls into Riverside Meadows tomorrow until Sunday.(Friday, July 2 - July 4) Coulrophobia, the fear of clowns, is believed to be caused by a subconscious fear of the unknown, as the clown’s heavy makeup can be seen as a mask that hides the character’s true intentions.

Popol and Kakehole are determined to ease people’s fears at the show, however and remind them that the clown figure is fun.

“It upsets us when audience figures are scared of us,” admitted Popol, who is the UK’s only remaining whiteface clown.

“In our act I’m the boss who tries to keep order, while Kakehole causes chaos,” he added. “He is like a big kid, always getting into trouble and the children identify with him. People are not scared of us when they get to know us - it is just the initial sight of us that can be unnerving.”

The duo, who have twice won the Best Comedy Act in the UK National Circus Awards, present zany routines including a magic act that has problems with a runaway rabbit, and an egg splattering, plate smashing performance that causes much mess and mayhem.

“We are offering special counselling, or rather clowncelling,” explained Kakehole, “We have developed some techniques to encourage people to overcome their fears.

“We gently introduce ourselves, explain the art of clowning, and perhaps even help the person to discover their own inner clown.”

The duo hope that they can show clowning in a new light, and help to preserve the most important element of the UK’s oldest form of entertainment. “Don’t be a rubber chicken,” Kakehole added, “There’s a delicious custard pie waiting for everyone that we cure.”

Show times for John Lawson’s circus are at 4.30pm and 7.30pm tomorrow, 2pm and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm.

For further information about the show and ticket enquiries, contact the box office on 07860 498833.