Clowning Around

Going to a tenth birthday party and seeing some clowns probably isn’t quite what you had in mind for a night on the town. Hell, you probably didn’t want a clown at your own tenth birthday party.

Fortunately, the clowns we’re talking about here aren’t the floppy-shoed, scary-wigged, haunt-you-in-your-dreams variety, but the playfully naïve kind, bursting with proper artistic kind. Children in wards up and down the country are being referred every week to the Clowndoctors, managed by Edinburgh based charity Hearts&Minds. They engage their imagination, make them laugh and all in all make them feel less sick. As the saying goes, laughter is damned good for you and as the Clowndoctors have been harnessing this power for a whopping ten years, they’ve decided to celebrate with laughs of a different kind.

Phil Kay, whose Oh, Edinburgh was one of only 3 shows The Skinny felt worthy of 5 stars during this year’s Fringe, will be headlining a special benefit to mark the occasion. Occasionally naked, often inexplicable, always lovely, Kay is joined by self confessed posh chap Miles Jupp, last in town for 4 star show Telling It Like It Might Be and our own Skinny blogger JoJo Sutherland. All are also graciously donating their funniest bones to wish the Clowndoctors a happy birthday and help raise money for them to be able to continue their excellent work.