Copyright 2001 by Edward Willett

Mention the word "clown" to most people and they'll think of children's birthday parties, the circus, big noses, floppy shoes and (if they're a little twisted) Stephen King's novel It.

But the clown tradition is a long and honorable one that includes far more than the Bozo-based stereotypes, and it's one that intrigues a lot of theatre performers--including four local women, Susan Ferley (former artistic director of Globe Theatre), Heather Hill, Traci Foster and Melodi Hawkesford.

Together, they've formed Fabulous Finds Theatre, which is holding a clown workshop this weekend in Regina and will be presenting its first play in early May.

"We came together as a group because we shared an interest in exploring clown and theatre," Susan explains. "The earliest incarnation was last summer when Heather and I were having coffee. We just talked about the fact we'd like to work together again." It turned out that Susan was heading off to Edmonton for a three-week clown workshop, and Heather was taking a clown workshop at Globe Theatre prior to the sold-out production of The Hobbit (which was clown-based), so it was obvious both women shared an interest in clowning.

As a result of that discovered mutual interest, they started pulling together information on clown, found a play that would give them the opportunity to explore clown, put together a proposal and sent it off to the arts board. Susan and Heather connected with Traci, who had been off in Toronto studying clown for a year, and Melodi, a student who had done the workshop at the Globe with Heather and whom Susan had worked with before, and Fabulous Finds Theatre was born.

Susan says clown appeals to her because of a desire "to reconnect with an honest and playful side of creativity." She says clown helps her access a place of innocence and clarity that each of us carries inside.

Clown doesn't have to be connected to theatre, Susan says. "Often in its early stages clown is non-verbal, whereas theatre as we know it is often verbal. Clown is often more physical and non-text-based. There's a freedom in the exploration of clown that one strives to claim in theatre but is sometimes lost in the formality of what we do."

Nevertheless, the focus of Fabulous Finds Theatre is clown within theatre, and to that end, they'll be exploring clown in the play The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls, which was originally staged in Toronto by its creators, five people who included several with clown backgrounds.

The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls is the story of three sisters, JoJo, Jane and Jelly Fine. "They meet in the family home where they grew up, and through the course of the play a lot of childhood memories sort of burst upon the scene," Susan says. "It's the story of their relationships and both the love that binds them and their search for more in their lives and in their self-expression. You can certainly see the roots of some of (the creators) who have a background in clown. The clowning informs the work."

The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls doesn't open until May, but Fabulous Finds Theatre will be in action this weekend, offering a workshop on clown in Room 176 of the University of Regina's Riddell Centre. "I wanted an opportunity to give back to the community and to offer some of the resources I have as a teacher and some of the experience I have in clown and creativity," Susan says. "It's also a lovely opportunity for us to work together and play together." For those taking part in the workshop, she says, it may be an introduction to clown, or it may be an opportunity to explore clown further.

The workshop runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The cost is $100; money raised will go toward the production of The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls.

The workshop is open to anyone, Susan says. "I know the workshop when I did it in Edmonton was filled with visual artists, musicians, social workers, teachers, and theatre artists, so it was a really eclectic group, and the work was invigorated by the diversity of the participants. It was really a wonderful experience."

Already signed up for the Regina workshop are teachers, dancers, and some theatre artists, Susan says. (Although the workshop is almost full, you might still be able to get in if you're reading this column before Friday evening, March 30; call Susan at 584-9262.)

The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls will run May 8 to May 13, in the Shumiatcher Theatre, (a.k.a. the Shu-Box) at the Riddell Centre, University of Regina. Show times will be 8 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday; tickets will be $6 for students and $12 otherwise, and again, you can call Susan at 584-9262 if you're looking for tickets.

After that, Fabulous Finds Theatre may or may not produce a second play. "Right now this is our adventure," Susan says. "We're set up as an Equity co-op, so there is an opportunity for us to do three productions. Right now we're doing the one. But certainly the exploration and creativity that comes from working through clown will be something ongoing. We'll see what happens."

Posted September 22, 2004