Colombian clown performance comes to University of Salford
Tuesday 17 January 2017
A Colombian clown who has uses his comedy to explore themes of violence and warfare will be performing in the University of Salford’s new arts building.
Lucho Guzman, who has performed across North and South America, will also be teaching his skills to students ahead of his appearance.
Guzman, a highly experienced performer, director and teacher, founded the Pasos de Payaso (Clown Footsteps) company which has travelled as far as Washington DC as well as touring remote rural areas of Colombia, and he has also taught at the National Hispanic Centre in New Mexico.
His show Ceniza (Ashes), was inspired by real experiences of conflict in Colombia, and is based around a lone soldier who takes refuge in an abandoned big-top and finds himself drawn into the world of the circus while a battle rages outside.
The show, taking place from 7pm on Monday January 23, is free but anyone who wants to attend should book a place by visiting https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/EJIGFM.
He will perform in one of the high-spec performance studios within the University’s £55m New Adelphi Arts Centre, which opened in September 2016 as the new home of the School of Arts and Media.
The show will be followed by a discussion with Guzman, chaired by Dr Richard Talbot, Senior Lecturer in Performance at The University and an expert on clowning.
Earlier, Guzman will bring more than 15 years of experience working in theatres, festivals and on the street when he holds a workshop session for students on the University’s Theatre And Performance Practice programme.
Students will be able to draw inspiration from the way Guzman incorporates a range of traditional circus and acrobatic skills into his modern approach to clowning.
Dr Talbot said: “Lucho Guzman is one of a number of performers across the world demonstrating how it’s possible to use traditional clowning skills to make audiences think about big social issues.
“It’s a real honour for him to perform here in Salford, and our students will draw a huge benefit from seeing how a unique performer from a different culture has taken an approach to theatre they may never have considered to create a passionate and important work.
“The workshop session will also provide an unrivalled opportunity for them to see an internationally renowned master demonstrating his craft at close quarters, and for them to develop skills which can be used across a wide range of performance areas.”
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