Features

Out of School: Activities - Clowning around

On with the show, which demands a little planning and lots of imagination, and offers a role for everyone, says Deborah Sharpe.

Abrightly coloured banner encircles an area which is surrounded by cheerful, laughing faces. Burlesque-style music plays. Two jugglers with painted faces throw skittles between them. Then one goes behind the other. The front one juggles with three rings, without stopping, while the other keeps stealing one for a few seconds, before replacing it.

Everyone laughs and applauds. Then the clown enters in a bright suit with an enormous tummy, smiley clown face with painted red nose, a curly wig and a hat with a flower in it. She falls over her feet, bounces off the sides because of her huge tummy and ends up on her bottom with her legs kicking the air, making everyone laugh.

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