Calgary Clown Festival, September 18 - 21 (2019)

The Clowns Are Coming

Calgary is finally getting a clown festival! Info is scarce thus far, but here’s what we know:

Are you looking for an absurdly good time, clowning around with your friends?

All four days will be jam-packed full of shows and entertainment at the Pumphouse Theatre. We are incredibly excited to announce that the famous clowning duo, Mump and Smoot will be headlining the festival, bringing their classic show Something back to the stage just for us!

Six other acts will be featured along with a family day on Saturday for the kids and late-night cabarets for the adults!

Mump & Smoot – Something
1. CREATED AND PERFORMED BY MICHAEL KENNARD AND JOHN TURNER DIRECTED BY KAREN HINES

Mump and Smoot live on the planet Ummo and worship the deity Ummo, as long as he might be responsive to their prayers. In “Something”, Mump & Smoot delight in the chaos of a nightmarish world. Their journey takes them to a quiet cafe, a somewhat gruesome wake, and finally, a catastrophic visit to the doctor’s office.

Teddy – Green Fools Theatre
1. Exhausted after a terrible day of birthday party clowning, Teddy just wants to relax and hang out with his best pal — his dog Bella. After a walk gone awry, his dog disappears and Teddy starts the panicked desperate search for his beloved Bella. The loss of Teddy’s dog begins a search into his own psyche and a journey to save his pal ensues. Dean Bareham, Artistic Director of Green Fools has been performing and clowning around the world for the last 28 years, including with Cirque du Soleil. Dean is working with Andy Curtis, from One Yellow Rabbit, as co-writer and director.
Jan & Peg’s Ritual Sacrifice – Valour & Tea
1. Cousins Jan and Peg are hosting a nice, normal party—and you’re invited! It’s definitely a totally normal party and nothing sinister is going on at all! Did someone say “trip to the underworld?” No, no—more like “trip to the FUNderworld!”
Clown Snack Pack of Tasty New Works: 3 shows in 1
1. Iam Shakespeare – Desperate Shakespeare
Virginia, a desperate housewife, fulfills her dreams of being a great classical actor by enacted some of Shakespeare’s great roles with the aid of finger puppets. Alongside snippets of classical text compulsive bouts of rap adaptations illuminate the internal landscape of Shakespeare’s great heroines.

1. Pinwheel Productions – Mandated Birthday

It’s everyone’s birthday and they want to celebrate. But be careful — Big Brother is watching. Join two Soviet comrades as they conduct a government approved birthday party for the masses. There will be government approved humor, government approved balloon animal making, and government supplied Birthday rations.

1. Canplay Arts Collective – Bubbling Over

“Bubbling Over” is about the struggles of routine, friendship, and bubbles! Establishing routine is a difficult task, even for great scientists, like Jojo and Keebo; in their laboratory, they must overcome their personal tensions to create something truly beautiful: friendship!

James Jordon – Vaudevillian
1. This one-man vaudeville variety show with original magic, skilled juggling, royalty-free music and comedy has been headlining comedy clubs and children’s festivals all over the world! A clean polished and professional performance for every demographic.

WHEN:

Wednesday, September 18

7:30PM-8:30PM: Clown Snack Pack of Tasty New Works
9:00PM-10:00PM: Jan & Peg’s Ritual Sacrifice by Valour and Tea

Thursday, September 19

7:30PM-8:30PM: Teddy by Green Fools
9:00PM-10:00PM: Jan & Peg’s Ritual Sacrifice by Valour and Tea

Friday, September 20

7:30PM-8:30PM: Clown Snack Pack of Tasty New Works
9:00PM-10:00PM: Mump and Smoot in Something
10:30-Midnight: Late Night Cabaret

Saturday, September 21

Noon to 4:00pm: Family Activities including face painting, crafts and roaming entertainment by Hamlet, The Clown and DJ Hank Stars Dance Party.
2:00PM-3:00PM: Family Fun Day with James Jordan, Vaudevillian
3:30PM-4:30PM: Family Fun Day with Teddy by Green Fools
8:00PM-9:00PM: Mump and Smoot in Something

9:30PM-11:00PM: Late Night Cabaret