The Lonely Clown Club
The Lonely Clown Club Theatre company is founded by performer Ethel Darling and consists of musicians, circus performers and actors based in Cornwall.
We exist to bring theatre which is accessible to all ages and backgrounds. with a range of shows & workshops ranging from feel good & light hearted entertainment to more challenging, provoking arts which leaves audiences and participants having learnt something about themselves and questioning the world we live in. We also have a pool of artists from fire performers, jugglers & acrobats, eager to teach or create a spectacle - depending on what's required.
The Lonely Clown Club believe strongly in the benefit of le jeu / jouer (the game / to play) for both young and old, within our masterclasses and workshops we work on embracing failure and letting go of inhibitions. Fear of embarrassment blocks out true self expression, to be allowed to explore honestly in a safe space can be not only beneficial for creating art but also for healing trauma and growing confidence in oneself which can then be applied to every day life. Clown isn't only for comedians, it's the binding that holds every social interaction together. It's an understanding of the human instinct and an empathy for our fellow man.
We beleive also in bringing shows that are accessible, no matter who you are, you will come away having had a great evening of laughter, even if you thought you were taking your 5 year old to see a show to get them excited for the holidays, you too, will have an evening to remember.
We always endeavour to meet any additional requirements for shows and workshops, just get in touch directly with Ethel and start a conversation.
"Ethel is an outstanding teacher, I look forward to attending clown school each week as I know it is a safe environment where I won't be judged or pushed past my own boundaries. I struggle with ADHD and Ethel has been amazing at accommodating skills that I can work on at a slower pace or individually to not cause overwhelm. A wonderful clown and teacher!" - Tamara Barlow, student and stand-up comic.
Ethel Darling - Founder & Performer
"Ethel Darling is an hilarious and hard working clown who hand picks humble and honest moments to invite joyful play with her audience. She has travelled the world to be taught by the forehumans of Clowning and has come back with her own empowered approach that slashes the opening ceremony ribbon, firmly sidestepping and creating a path all of her own". - Alexandra Hofgartner
Ethel grew up in Cornwall, England, surrounded by street performers. Musicians, clowns, puppeteers, circus artists she really is a product of her family. At age 15, Ethel's uncle took her under his wing and invited her to join his company Bash Street Theatre. Performing with Bash Street opened her eyes to how wonderful life in the arts can be. The countries visited, the people met, the shows, the audiences, the joy of performing itself, gave her a huge passion for theatre and circus.
She trained proffessionally at Circomedia, Bristol specialising in acrobatics, and then went on to Paris, training at L'Ecole Jacques Lecoq, the heart of French theatre and comedy. Here she fell in love with the simplicity and potential of everyday occurrences.
Ethel's work is influenced by human nature, the instincts to do and say things and to react to the impulses that we are told not to follow. By exposing the naivety that we all have hidden inside, permission is given to make mistakes and find joy from them.
Ethel is an experienced teacher, leading Shakespeare and drama lessons with schools for The Minack Theatre, coaching acrobatics and stage craft for Cirque Du Ciel and coaching circus in France with CRL10 Paris Anim'.
She delights in aiding performers to grow and develop new confidence in themselves through the use of game, play and exploration as well as traditional repetition.
Julian Gaskell - Musician
Julian Gaskell is a multi-instrumentalist singer, songwriter, producer, performer, storyteller and van driver. Described by angry locals as the bastard son of Waits, Strummer, Reinhardt and Rachmaninov, he is a ludicrously self-sabotaging musical talent whose work over the last 20 years has incorporated verbose punk, withering agricultural-folk, european street accordion and skiffled-up boogie-woogie piano protest songs, torch ballads, weeping country laments and straight up rock’n’roll bangers. He has worked with Bash Street Theatre, I Am Kloot, Icons of Poundland, Rogue Theatre and currently fronts his latest incarnation of 'Julian Gaskell & his Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' on vocals, accordion, and guitar.
Daniel Richards - Director
Writer, Directer Daniel has been a professional actor for 16 years. He is the Co-Artistic Director of nationally touring theatre company ‘Owdyado Theatre (A View from the Edge, Twisted Tales, Twisted Tales Vol. 2, Twisted Tales goes to Edinburgh) and a co-founder of Near-ta Theatre (creators of cult Christmas comedy Christmas. Time. which has run every year for 15 years and counting).
Daniel has written for thirteen professionally produced theatre shows and has directed six shows for companies including ‘Owdyado Theatre, Miracle Theatre and The Hall for Cornwall.
Isolde Pullum - Costume & Set Design
Isolde Pullum BA HONS, MA
Educated in Southend and Cornwall, Isolde Pullum has worked in many creative industries as a designer, illustrator and educator. She has published six Young Adult Fiction books about horses and taught for thirty-four years at Falmouth University, initially on the highly successful Foundation Course and latterly as co-writer, senior lecturer and course leader of the innovative BA(HONS) in Drawing from 2011-2020.
Isolde has had professional connections with the Cornwall Theatre Company, Shiva Theatre and The Minnack Theatre which includes poster designs for The Tempest, Under Milkwood, The Three Musketeers, Zoo Story, The Wind in the Willows and A Little Night Music.
Isolde’s drawing practise is broad, encompassing both the Inner and the Outer Worlds. The work she produce ranges from detailed records of natural history subjects, impressions of the landscapes where she walks and rides and an extensive series of drawings based loosely on the phenomena of pareidolia. These are made from chance starting points and experimental surfaces; people, animals and landscapes are recurrent themes, and the crafting of these images is a challenge to memory and recall.
Testimonials;
"I worked with Ethel for two years on the touring show ‘The Cameraman’ and on occasional ‘Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’ projects and I can safely state that she is a bonafide quadruple threat talent - not only an acrobat and clown, she is also a fine singer and accordionist.She is professional and diligent in learning pieces, and is always full of creative ideas. Sadly the same cannot be said of her colleague Buster Kitten*, whose slovenly approach and wooden acting have scuppered many productions." - Julian Gaskell
"Ethel has an ability to encourage the best from whomever she works with. Ethel has directed our Mossy Crow performances – she is very professional and at the same time she brings elements of fun and playfulness to the creative process. Her clowning workshops are a total inspiration." Trix Robertson, Mossy Crow
“I enjoy working with Ethel, she has a beautiful soul and her approach to teaching makes even the most difficult challenges seem less daunting.” - Rosi Jolly
"Ethel makes everything fun, she’s awesome and has a great energy! She quickly had the students feeling comfortable and ready to take risks. Her approach is so inclusive and inspiring!" - Sam Colborne
"Ethel is a joy to work with. She is not only capable of eliciting emotion at the drop of a hat but also has an intuitive physicality. She's versatile, responds precisely to direction and has a truly unique creative eye. I have worked with her on photoshoots, in music and on short films and would recommend her talents in an instant" - Guy Bellingham F.R.P.S.
''Ethel is a complete professional to work with and a joy to be around. She is extremely dedicated to her art and no doubt will shake things up with her own style of clown. To witness a young female work within these realms is quite a rarity and very refreshing.'' - Laura Wheeler Hotch Potch Performance
