Clown Workshops  ~  for Educators  ~  Court Jester  ~  Performances

What is a modern day court jester?

Modern day jesters holds court in many places – at the lecture, meeting, festival, protest, boardroom, celebration, conference or convention. The possible venues are endless. By inviting the fool to your “court” you open your community to new possibilities for joy, understanding and inspiration.

The work of the court fools, jesters or clowns is the art of social transformation through reflection. By mirroring back our experiences the fools allow us to see our thoughts, feelings and actions more objectively, thus bringing clarity and insight. They bring levity, joy and love to a community. They can also help to ease an otherwise tense or difficult situation by playing and compassionately laughing at that which makes us most human – our struggles.

What happens when a jester comes to an event?

One or two fools come to your event to observe as observers or participants. At agreed upon times throughout the events, they will review or play back lecture, artistic or discussion content in an innocent, yet simply wise way - through the heart of the fool. The beauty of the fools is that they work in pure archetype or idea, “knowing” nothing and yet everything at the same time. One moment they get it all wrong so that we laugh and learn through the mistakes. The next moment they speak the vision that is yet to be seen. Whichever way it turns (and sometimes it turns both ways at once!) the fools help us to free ourselves from fixed concepts in order to access ever deeper truths. Through humor the clown acts as a mercurial change agent, guiding us towards the very real and silly reality of creativity.

Thoughts on playing the fool, the jester and the clown

by Dawn Stratton, fool, court jester and clown teacher

Where do I place myself between the fool and the jester? When I have the discernment to know something I jest. When I don’t I’m the fool. This discernment between the two is the quest and the research practice I work with alchemically. I can play in the moment either way and knowing where I am is the development of consciousness.

In regards to performance... "The consciousness of the operant determines the experience of the recipient" and now and then, something of the Great Wisdom slips in despite me. And when all else fails, the clown in me comes out to make sure we don’t take things too seriously. Grace provides for harmless and silly fun that is friendly, lovable and thus forgivable too!

What event participants have said about the work of the jester

"In November 2007, at Emerson College UK, I had the privilege of participating in (and lecturing at) the ‘Anthroposophia, Opening the Portals of our Hearts’ conference. Among the many and varied presenters, was Dawn Stratton, a clown and simple fool who shared her gift of humorous wisdom with us. She interlaced magically and seamlessly between presentations, reflecting the essence of what had been given with a childlike compassion for the absurd and the fantastic, as well as the wonderful and the inspiring. Like a court jester she not only offered a necessary relief from seriousness but also created an opportunity for objective observation and self-reflection. The outcome was an atmosphere of community and good will that I have not experienced before at a conference. I am indebted to her for this experience and I full-heartedly recommend her work." (Adriana Koulias, Australia; author of "The Seal" and "Temple of the Grail", international lecturer)

“Dawn combined humor and wit to make sense of difficult material. I was very cautious at first, but after seeing what she did, it seems that without the clowning something would be missing from my presentations. Dawn is sensitive, funny, inoffensive and extremely bright. She looks for humorous ways to explain new and complex ideas, which helps lecturers and participants to become light-hearted and open to each other. Her work is exceptional.” (Frank Chester, California; geometrician, artist and international lecturer on sacred geometry)

“Clowning at the conference helped so much in assimilating the information...giving a needed breather in a delightful and insightful way. Dawn brought light and laughter that was gentle and caring. Thank you for your inspiring spontaneity.” (Nicola Willis, England; Bothmer gymnast and Fall '07 Anthroposophia conference participant)