Tessa Waters coined the group’s name - Feminist Clown Posse. Photo: Supplied The Feminist Clown Posse will be unleashed on Lyttelton tonight. But those with coulrophobia need not worry as these clowns aren’t scary.
The group’s sold-out show on Wednesday night promises to bring fits of giggles - even to people with a phobia of clowns. Renowned Australian entertainer Tessa Waters, who now lives in Lyttelton, coined the group’s name to be “positively provocative”. “Clowns are seen as sort of innocent and putting it with feminism, which is quite a strong idea, will hopefully either make people interested in what we’re doing or realise it’s not for them,” she said Waters’ clown troupe is part of the line-up for LytFest , which runs until July 20.
The festivities started at Albion Square last week with a parade of performers and dance party. Under Waters’ tutelage, 22 women and non-binary people have been learning the art of clowning through a feminist lens at the Lyttelton Recreation Centre. “The clown scene internationally is quite male dominated, so I was very interested in empowering other voices.
” She has more than a decade of experience in creating acclaimed comedy, theatre and short films which have played to sell-out crowds in Australia and the United Kingdom. The Feminist Clown Posse is a Lyttelton-based troupe focused on learning the jester arts through a progressive lens. Photo: Supplied Waters has found traditional clown training to be restri.
