The Clowns Convention

The Clowns are back!

In a swirling show, a group of international clowns searches for a way out of the crisis. Can clowns save humanity from destruction? Do they have the last straw against polarization?

For this performance, the actors of Wunderbaum and Theaterhaus Jena try on the clownsuit themselves. To the music of beatboxer and musician Joost Maaskant (a.k.a. MAASK) they present never before seen clownsacts and investigate whether they are still relevant. With the rise of the horror clown and the disappearance of the circus, the clown’s reputation is in danger. Are they still taken seriously? Is society still waiting for that confronting mirror?

We want you to join our army
And if you think we are just clowns you’re wrong.
You are the biggest clown yourself.

By and with

  • Walter Bart
  • Pina Bergemann
  • Wine Dierickx
  • Matijs Jansen
  • Joost Maaskant
  • Leon Pfannenmuller
  • Maartje Remmers
  • Marleen Scholten
  • Hanneke van der Paardt

Music

  • Joost Maaskant
  • Gregor Sandler (Utrecht & Groningen)

Directors assistent

  • Koen Verheijden

Special thanks to

  • Enrico Bonavera
  • Aus Greidanus Sr.
  • Paul du Bois-Reymond
  • The Zona K residency in Milan

Set and lightdesign

  • Maarten van Otterdijk

Costume design

  • Sacha Zwiers

Sound Design

  • Rick Gobee

Technical coordination

  • Siemen van der Werf | Ruimtetijd

Technician

  • Maarten Houdijk
  • Nick van Doesum
  • Rick Gobee
  • William Kenter

Photography

  • Jan Dirk van der Burg (campagnefoto)
  • Fred Debrock (scenefoto's)

Producer

  • Wunderbaum
  • Theaterhaus Jena

Co-producer

  • Theater Rotterdam

Made possible by

  • Fonds Podiumkunsten

Past dates

  • January 2023

    19

    Theater de Veste
    Delft

  • January 2023

    14

    Theater Rotterdam
    With English surtitles

  • January 2023

    13

    Theater Rotterdam
    With English surtitles

  • January 2023

    12

    Goudse Schouwburg
    Gouda

  • January 2023

    11

    Chasse Theater
    Breda

  • January 2023

    10

    Stadsschouwburg Nijmegen

  • December 2022

    10

    Theater de Maagd
    Bergen op Zoom

  • December 2022

    09

    Parktheater Eindhoven

  • September 2022

    17

    Spot
    Groningen

  • September 2022

    14

    Stadsschouwburg Utrecht

  • September 2022

    10

    ITA/ Nederlands Theaterfestival
    Amsterdam

  • September 2022

    07

    Het Nationale Theater
    Den Haag

  • September 2022

    06

    Het Nationale Theater
    Den Haag

  • December 2021

    08

    NTGent
    Gent

  • December 2021

    01

    Het Nationale Theater
    Den Haag

  • October 2021

    03

    Internationaal Theater
    Amsterdam

  • October 2021

    02

    Internationaal Theater
    Amsterdam

  • September 2021

    17

    Theater Rotterdam

  • September 2021

    16

    Theater Rotterdam

  • September 2021

    15

    Theater Rotterdam

  • September 2021

    14

    Stadsschouwburg Utrecht

  • September 2021

    01

    Zeeland Nazomerfestival
    Goes

  • August 2021

    31

    Zeeland Nazomerfestival
    Goes

  • August 2021

    30

    Zeeland Nazomerfestival
    Goes

  • August 2021

    29

    Zeeland Nazomerfestival
    Goes

  • August 2021

    28

    Zeeland Nazomerfestival
    Goes

  • August 2021

    07

    Theater aan Zee
    Oostende

  • August 2021

    06

    Theater aan Zee
    Oostende

  • August 2021

    05

    Theater aan Zee
    Oostende

  • July 2021

    17

    Theaterhaus Jena
    Jena

  • July 2021

    16

    Theaterhaus Jena
    Jena

  • July 2021

    15

    Theaterhaus Jena
    Jena

  • July 2021

    14

    Theaterhaus Jena
    Jena

  • July 2021

    13

    Theaterhaus Jena
    Jena

  • July 2021

    10

    Theaterhaus Jena
    Jena

  • July 2021

    09

    Theaterhaus Jena
    Jena

“A congress of international clowns that gradually becomes a self-help group: what a wonderful idea from Wunderbaum, a Dutch-Flemish-Italian collective, that for two decades has been a guarantee for generous and socially critical theater.”
De Standaard

“The profession of circus clown may be threatened with extinction, but that of actor is very much alive. What a lot of work, what a great insight by Wunderbaum. And what bravura, what a job: that of an actor!”
Theaterkrant.nl

“The fantastic collective Wunderbaum is back from lockdown… It is an enormous joy to see the passionate actors at this congress of freaks back on stage.”
Frankfurter Allgemeine

“Your eyes are treated to beautiful, colorful scene shots, your laughter muscles get a work-out - even though the goal of the acrobatics is to die, there is resurrection every time - and the final scene is beautiful.” Knack.be

“A reunion with loving characters.”
Libertad media

“The Clowns Convention we love that.”
Concertnews.be

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