Clown and Performance with Damien Warren-Smith

This workshop is for people with some performance experience; as a clown, actor, improviser or comedian. It helps if you have had some clown training but not essential. We will build on all the core learning areas of the ‘Intro to Clown’ workshop (Looking to the Laugh, Repeating the Funny, Learning to Love the Flop, Saving your Mate, Doing Something vs Doing Nothing) and I will begin to provoke you as the ‘Boss Clown’ to help you find the ridiculous. We will source costumes and start to play around with the red nose. The workshop will finish by looking at ways to create clown scenes and we will put on a show for friends and family on the final evening.

Focus:

• Provoking the Idiot
• Finding the Game 
• Clowns in Scripted Scenes
• Creating Original Clown Material/Scenes

Damien Warren-Smith (A.K.A. Garry Starr) is a performer whose solo work has played festivals all over the world, picking up numerous awards along the way. Having trained and worked as an actor for over 15 years he re-trained as a clown with the likes of Mick Barnfather, Peta Lily, John Wright, Lucy Hopkins, Carlo Jacucci and Philippe Gaulier before forming clown troupe A Plague of Idiots. His solo shows have played to packed houses in Melbourne, Sydney, London, Oslo, Berlin, LA and Las Vegas and he has taught workshops across the UK, Australia and Japan. His new show Classic Penguins was one of the best reviewed shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 and he was the 2025 Winner of Most Outstanding Show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.


'One of the greatest clowns audiences are likely to see in their lifetime'

- NZ Herald

‘Starr is an appealingly absurd comic creation… his tremendous warmth and respect for his audience balance out a childlike urge to create absolute chaos’

- The Stage (UK)

This workshop is for people with some performance experience; as a clown, actor, improviser or comedian. 

• Pay in full - £250 + £6.50 service fee
• Pay 25% deposit at checkout and remaining before class starts

Fee includes 'Buy One Get One Half Price' show tickets and free entry to FA Harold night for the duration of the course.

There are only 14 places on this course. If you have any questions about the course or your suitability, please email hello@thefreeassociation.co.uk.