I was invited by Clown Power to have a chat with a gaggle of female clowns from Oz and UK on Sunday 29th March - you can eavesdrop here!:

We five clowns from very different backgrounds gathered to speak about how it is to be a female clown. The panel members were:  

• Sue Broadway is a director, academic and teacher of circus and physical theatre. She also performs as a clown, compere, eccentric juggler and Vaudevillian. She’s interested in the intersection between Clown, feminism, aging and caring and is wondering where next.

• Debra Battton is a Performer  / Director of Circus and Physical Theatre based in Melbourne, Australia. Debra is interested in experiments with theatrical forms including Circus Dance Text and Improvisation. She has over thirty years of professional experience including leading Legs on the Wall as Artistic Director for ten years.
• Maggie Irving is a clown, teacher and researcher with a ‘Practice as Research’ PhD in becoming a female clown. A Clown Doctor! Passionate about clowning in everyday life, and bringing the art of clowning into stand up comedy, business and beyond.
• Peta Lily is a prolific devising performer who often uses autobiographical material in her work; clown-informed, mixed with spoken word, song and gently wry satire. She  directs, leads independent workshops & is a Visiting Lecturer at leading drama schools in London. 

• Holly Stoppit is a facilitator, performance skills teacher, theatre director, dramatherapist and clown academic, specialising in live, interactive, improvised and devised performance. At the heart of all of Holly’s work is a desire to promote creative discovery and connection through play.

The discussion was chaired by Vicki Amedume from Upswing Aerial and produced by Dave Spathaky for Clown Power.

This is the first of a series of discussions between clowns, to find out more join the Clownpower Facebook group here.

All previous episodes of Clown Power Live are at the ZooLogical youtube channeland on the Zoological website.

Holly got to chair the 7th episode, about clowning, circus and mental health - to see that video, click here.

Holly got to interview her Fooling teacher, Franki Anderson for series 2, episode 1. To see that video, click here.