Enclownter with Joy: a playful invitation to see the world differently
Can you make a clown laugh?
Goodbye glum, hello joy!
In a world that often feels heavy – burdened by climate change, urban sprawl, and the lingering echoes of isolation – I wanted to create a moment of lightness. Not in a way that ignores the weight of it all, but in a way that invites us to meet it differently. Through play. Through presence. Through a simple yet profound encounter. That’s how Enclownter with Joy was born.
A five-minute performance, a lifetime of wonder
Imagine walking along the Greenway, lost in thought, when suddenly… a clown catches your eye. They’re seated, waiting. An open invitation. You sit down beside them. There are no words, no expectations – just a shared moment of presence.
In this silent, playful exchange, you become joy. The clown sees you, reflects you, mirrors the absurdity, the beauty, the rawness of simply existing in this world. It’s a fleeting encounter, yet something shifts. A small, magical rupture in the ordinary.
Reclaiming play in public spaces
This project, funded by the Inner West Council, transformed an urban walking track into a space of unexpected connection. Public spaces so often rush us along – we pass through, we function, we move efficiently from A to B. But what if they became places to pause? To wonder? To engage?
Clowning, at its heart, is about presence. It’s about meeting each moment with curiosity, responding to what is, and finding joy in the tiniest of details. That’s what Enclownter with Joy offered – a chance to step outside the script of everyday life and into something more playful, more human.
The power of small moments
Some people laughed. Some sat in quiet reflection. Some hesitated, unsure at first, and then softened into the moment. Every interaction was unique. Every person brought their own version of joy to the encounter.
And isn’t that the magic of clowning? It reminds us that joy isn’t something we chase – it’s something we notice, something we embody, something we share.
This experiment was also a turning point for me. It was the moment I realised I wanted to bring therapeutic clowning into spaces beyond the hospital – into public spaces, workplaces, communities – anywhere that could benefit from a little more play, presence, and connection.
Until the next Enclownter…keep playing.