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- An unprecedented clown shortage has hit circuses in parts of Europe because of the months-long pandemic shutdown.
- Circuses are desperate to replace the clowns they lost when many of them returned home during the lengthy shutdown and did not return or joined other shows.
- More clown-related news here.
Amazingly, in the year 2021, there is still a demand for clowns. Unfortunately (?), the supply of clowns in place like Europe, especially Northern Ireland, has dwindled down to almost nothing.
This has created a serious clown shortage for carnivals and circuses over there as they look to replace the clowns they lost during the pandemic shutdown, the BBC reports.
David Duffy, co-owner of Duffy’s Circus, is putting out the call for performers to take on the role of a clown in his show, which has been closed for more than 500 days.
“Because all the circuses in Europe and in England have been up and operational for the past six months, that huge pool of EU artists are already back at work and up until last week we haven’t been able to even get visas issued for non-EU artists and entertainers,” Duffy said.
“That’s why we’re trying to reach out for any of our folks at home who feel that they can give it a go.”
Noeleen Fries Neumann, a clown who goes by the name Silly Tilly, told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster program, “Not everybody likes to be laughed at but for someone who is a clown, your worst nightmare would be to not be laughed at.”
Some might say that being in close proximity to someone dressed as a clown would be their worst nightmare, but I digress.
“You have to be able to poke fun at yourself, it’s not about poking fun at other people,” she added.
Related: Would You Stay At This Creepy Clown Motel In The Middle Of The Nevada Desert?
“There’s a lot more to being a clown than just putting on a big red nose and a big baggy pair of pants,” said Duffy.
And that would be?
“When you go into the circus ring and you’ve got 700 to 800 people looking at you, no matter what sort of mood you’re in you have to light up that circus ring,” Duffy explained.
“A clown actually can be the loneliest place because you’re in there on your own and you have to be able to read your audience, in a short couple of minutes you have to be able to get a rapport going with them and interact and feed off them.”
Northern Ireland will officially lift restrictions on shows like Duffy’s Circus on Monday, October 4. Whether the circus will have enough clowns when that time comes remains to be seen.