The Clown Manifesto

P. Nalle Laanela founded Clowns Without Borders (Sweden) in 1996, starting his lifetime research into the lowest common denominator of laughter. His passion for pedagogy led him to work at the Stockholm Academy of Dance and Circus and at the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts where he was clown professor for a Master’s programme entitled ‘A Year of Physical Comedy’. Professionally, Nalle’s work as a performer and show director is focused through his company Circus Arts and its internationally touring productions Moulin Noir and The Burnt Out Punks. Stacey Sacks is an actor/writer/director/clown born in Zimbabwe but currently living in Stockholm. She has been performing professionally since 1996 in theatre and film, and completed her Master’s entitled ‘A Year of Physical Comedy’ at STDH with Nalle as her Clown Professor. She currently works on touring productions with Clowns Without Borders and also tours her clownish one woman show about African Dictatorship, I Shit Diamonds, to theatre festivals all over Europe.