Drama students from the University of Manchester, dressed as Victorian clowns, will tread the boards of the Grand Theatre in an afternoon of Victorian comedy, spun from the life and work of two professional clowns on Thursday 25 January in Fools and Horses: The Victorian Clown.
Dr Ann Featherstone, Lecturer in Drama, discovered the joke book and will give a talk on Victorian clowns and circuses between performances.
The book belonged to a Victorian clown, Thomas Lawrence, and is packed with 200 gags used to amuse audiences at the nineteenth century circus. Fools and Horses: The Victorian Clown will bring his book to life in vivid colour after 130 years.
The lecture coincides with publication of 'The Victorian Clown' which Ann Featherstone co-authored with Jacky Bratton, Professor of Drama at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Dr Featherstone said: "This is an afternoon of Victorian comedy and offers unique insight on the origins of popular entertainment.
"At the Victorian circus the comic managed audience attention for the riders and acrobats, parodying their skills in his own tumbling and contortionism. But he also offered a running commentary on the times through his own 'wheezes' - stand-up comedy sets.
"The joke book is the equivalent to the late Bob Monkhouse's beloved gag book which was famously stolen a few years ago. And like Monkhouse's book, it was well used. Tom Lawrence would probably have thumbed through it during a performance to refresh his memory.
"The material is very funny and contains timeless, universal elements of comedy."Â
"Tom Lawrence worked throughout the country but mainly in the Midlands and the Black country. However, he could very well have performed at the circus which actually stood on the site of the Blackpool Grand from 1889."Â
Grand Theatre manager, Paul Iles, said: "The Victorian Clown continues the Grand Theatre's fascinating series of talks and productions on the energy and diversity of nineteenth century theatre, placing the Grand and Blackpool entertainment in its social and cultural contexts.
"The talk will appeal to enthusiasts and students of Variety theatre and heritage - and all those who dream of running away to join the circus!"Â
The drama students taking part have already tasted success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with the "Johnny Miller Presents"Â theatre company.
They are: Rob Ward, 19, from The Wirral, Rich Luke, 20, from Northumberland, Timmy Jones, 19, from Cardiff and Mike Gilhooly, 21, from Cardiff.
Rob Ward said: "Despite doing twelve shows in Edinburgh with Johnny Miller presents, the Grand Theatre will be the biggest theatre I've performed in, so it's going to be very exciting.
"We do a range of pieces and there's lots of satire. One of my favourites mocks upper class factory owners. It's great fun and really quite authentic.
"Comedy is something which interests us all. I certainly hope to continue on in that direction."Â -- www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk
Posted January 24th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
