UK Circus Offers Therapy for Clown-Fearing Adults
Wednesday, 16 Jun 2010, 9:22
(NewsCore) - A circus touring Britain has launched a unique "clownselling" service aimed at overcoming peoples' fears associated with its show's starring duo, a spokesperson told NewsCore on Wednesday.
The free workshops allow those suffering from Coulrophobia -- the fear of clowns, rated as Britain's third biggest phobia behind spiders and needles in a recent poll -- to confront their feelings and even access their own "inner clown."
Paul Carpenter, who runs the sessions along with his fellow clown partner and the ringmaster at John Lawson’s Circus, explained that it was adults rather than children who were in need of the therapy.
"Many of them have a preconceived idea of clowns as knife-wielding psychos and they're petrified, very frightened," he said.
"This is partly to do with the role of clowns in horror movies like Stephen King's 'It.' We want to counter the negative image associated with clowns and show them it's just an act."
In order to face their phobias, participants first see clown actors in ordinary clothes, before been taken on a backstage tour where the clowns gradually transform into their characters.
They are then encouraged to talk about their fears and dress up as clowns themselves, if they want to.
Carpenter said the service, currently in southwestern England, had so far been successful, with only a handful of adults unable to complete the final transformation into a clown.
The fear of clowns may be a predominantly British preoccupation. In April, a Swiss city saw the launch of an "evil clown service," whereby parents could hire a psychotic-looking mime to stalk their children at birthday parties.
Actor Dominic Deville, who fronted the scheme, reported that it was very successful and that the kids "absolutely loved" his chilling antics.
The free workshops allow those suffering from Coulrophobia -- the fear of clowns, rated as Britain's third biggest phobia behind spiders and needles in a recent poll -- to confront their feelings and even access their own "inner clown."
Paul Carpenter, who runs the sessions along with his fellow clown partner and the ringmaster at John Lawson’s Circus, explained that it was adults rather than children who were in need of the therapy.
"Many of them have a preconceived idea of clowns as knife-wielding psychos and they're petrified, very frightened," he said.
"This is partly to do with the role of clowns in horror movies like Stephen King's 'It.' We want to counter the negative image associated with clowns and show them it's just an act."
In order to face their phobias, participants first see clown actors in ordinary clothes, before been taken on a backstage tour where the clowns gradually transform into their characters.
They are then encouraged to talk about their fears and dress up as clowns themselves, if they want to.
Carpenter said the service, currently in southwestern England, had so far been successful, with only a handful of adults unable to complete the final transformation into a clown.
The fear of clowns may be a predominantly British preoccupation. In April, a Swiss city saw the launch of an "evil clown service," whereby parents could hire a psychotic-looking mime to stalk their children at birthday parties.
Actor Dominic Deville, who fronted the scheme, reported that it was very successful and that the kids "absolutely loved" his chilling antics.
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