two clowns trapped in a cardboard world
Welcome, sit down, relax, but don’t get too comfortable.
Coulrophobia (fear of clowns) is 80 minutes of slapstick, mime, puppetry, existential angst and big shoes’.
Our unlikely heroes are Dik & Adam, two clowns in search of freedom from a bewildering cardboard world. Join them in their desperate quest for a more meaningful existence.
With enough subversive humour to please the most hardened cynic, Coulrophobia glides seamlessly from sinister to touching, from ridiculous to outright hilarious.
Coulrophobia was made in 2014 by Pickled Image at Nordland Visual Theatre, Norway, and has headlined at many of Europe’s leading arts festivals. Director, John Nicholson, co-founded Peepolykus and has written and adapted many stage comedy hits including The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary. Opposable Thumb is Dik Downey’s new company after 20 years as co-director of Pickled Image.
Warning: Coulrophobia contains ‘disappointing nudity’ and some words more appropriate for those aged 14 +.
Coulrophobia Trailer
Stage Talk Magazine
“ A non-stop riot of a show... a complete pleasure to watch as it moves seamlessly from the sinister to the touching, to the outright hilarious ”
Bristol 24/7
“ Adam and Dik are modern-day lords of misrule. Enough subversive humour to please the most cynical of theatregoers…a perfect display of how good contemporary clowning can be “
The Wee Review, Edinburgh
“ Mixes silly slapstick with acute cognisance, peppered by flashes of the sinister and brought to life by two performers at the peak of their clowning powers ”
Total Theatre
“ Not Creepy-weird, but meta-theatrical-weird. An endlessly watchable double act, manifesting all the unhealthily intense affection and antagonism of a codependent relationship. It’s sublimely entertaining ”
Loud-Word Online
“ It’s impossible not to laugh. My cheeks ached when I left the theatre ”
WHAT AUDIENCES SAY:
“F**king brilliant! Utterly amazing. Not a dull moment”
“Brilliant physical and inclusive theatre”
“My face hurts from laughing”
“Blindingly good!”
“Edgy, fun, sadistic. Created a whole & convincing universe”
“Hysterical and surprisingly beautiful”
“Morecombe and Wise meets Beckett”
“I can never unsee what I’ve seen”
CREATIVE TEAM
Director John Nicholson (Peepolykus)
Performers Dik Downey and Adam Blake
Concept and Script Dik Downey, Adam Blake and John Nicholson
Puppet Makers Dik Downey and Emma Powell
Set Design Dik Downey and Emma Powell
Props and Objects Emma Powell
Composer and Sound Design Simon Preston
Costume Designer Linda Anneveld
Wig Maker Debbie Hard
Light Design and Technical Solutions Jan Erik Skarby,
Marianne Thallaug Wedset and Onela Keal
Technician and Touring Director Chris Collier
PR Design Onela Keal
Film Maker and Photographer Adam Laity (Black Cat Films)
Producer Vicky Andrews (Pickled Image)
PR / MARKETING
Please use this link to download the Media Pack which includes information about the performance and high resolution publicity images.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Please use this link to download the Technical Rider which includes LX plot .
