When Holly met Jamie
Feb 12 2019
Last week, I met 'international art-clown' Jamie Wood. We'd heard a lot about each other from shared students, and I've seen two of his three solo shows (which are, incidentally, coming to Bristol this week), but we'd never officially met to chat.
On moving to the southwest of England, Jamie decided it was time look up this Holly Stoppit character, and find out about what I do with my days.
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2018 Reflections
Dec 11 2018
As 2018 quietly grinds to a halt, I'm taking a moment to reflect back and savour the deliciously tangy, rich, fruitful experiences that have made up my year. 2018 has been like one massive, fancy, cake tasting party.
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On Clowns And Clowning
Dec 05 2018
On my final weekend as Clown In Residence at the Bristol Museum, I asked my alter-ego, Professor Patricia McNish H.A. H.A. H.A, to lead four tours around Clowns: the Eggs-hibition. This blog will give you a flavour of some of the content of the tour; there's facts and stories and downright lies, as well as funny things to try.
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Future Dreams Brainstorming
Sep 17 2018
It's that time of year again, the time when I quietly haul up and reflect on my past year and dream about my year to come. As someone who needs to be constantly learning, challenged, stretched and inspired, my career has taken many unusual twists and turns. Many of which have been intentional!
I have a regular reflection practice which I'd like to share with you below. I've refined it a bit since I last described it Read more >
Holly on radio 2!
Sep 11 2018
Yesterday, I got a call from one of Chris Evan's researchers. Earlier, during his breakfast show on radio 2, Chris had been pondering the origins of the gesture where you put your thumb to your nose and wiggle your fingers. "Well", thought the researcher, "who better to ask than a clown teacher?"
So here I am appearing as Chris Evans' mystery guest talkin... Read more >
fools explore the human condition
Aug 21 2018
This is the only picture I have of the last two weeks at Fools School. Strawberries and Borage, from the final banquet of the second of two week-long fooling courses I've just run back to back in Bristol. One of the fools pointed out that strawberries are the only fruit to carry their seeds on the outside. Another fool told us that borage traditionally represents courage. I think this beautifully describes what's been happening at fools school for the... Read more >
10 Top Tips For Creative Process
Jul 20 2018
Today is my last day of writing retreat. For the last two weeks, I've put myself in beautiful places to work on my book. For the first week, I rented an apartment on my own in the lovely seaside town of Ilfracombe in Devon and for the second week, I shared a cottage in rural Crean in Cornwall with an actual real writer and a musician.
Writing retreat was a blissful, nightmarish, straightforward, impossible, inevitable, wonderful rollercoaster and... Read more >
The Fine Line between Comedy and Trauma
Jul 10 2018
Have you seen Hannah Gadsby's 'Nanette' on Netflix yet? If you haven't, what are you waiting for? Cancel your plans and set up your telly-box right now! If you haven't got Netflix, get it or hassle a friend who has. I know, it's hot and you've got things to do, but this is one of the bravest, most powerful comedy shows you'll see. Take it from me, I've seen a few!
At the top of her hour-long... Read more >
The Inner Teacher
Jun 18 2018
Last week, feeling the desire to experience a bit of what I teach, I attended a week-long residential clowning and clearing retreat, entitled “The Inner Teacher.” Two incredibly experienced facilitators wove their practices together to offer a phenominal group journey which posed the question; “How do I bring the playfulness and lightness of the clown into my own life and work as a leader, teacher, human being?”
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8th June Summer School Deadline
Jun 07 2018
Idiot on a mountain, doing it her way, says:
"Holly Stoppit's August Summer School deadline is Midnight 8th June 2018."
Info and application forms here.
Look forwards to playing with you.
xxx
Drone Pilot / Video Editor: Joe Rosser
Idiot: Holly Stoppit
Location: Brecon Beacon
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