Off to Klagenfurt – and Why the World Needs Clowns

Straight from the Circus- & Clownmuseum Wien, the Fools Brothers are heading to Carinthia: Lionel and Liam Fool are bringing their comedy magic show “On A Magical Mystery Detour” to the Veranstaltungszentrum Klagenfurt at Alpen-Adria-Platz 1. But before we get to dates, something else is important to us: Why we do clowning at all – and what that has to do with our museum.

We, the Fools Brothers, see ourselves as Nouveau Clowns – a clown movement that emerged in the late 1970s and was co-founded by Jango Edwards. It stands for stepping “out of the circus, away with the red nose and the dusty, prejudice-laden image of clowns” and for a form of clowning that engages with life directly. For us, a clown is not just the “bumbling type with colorful makeup,” but an attitude: innocent, free, curious, ready to fail and get back up – and in doing so, reflecting our society like a playful child.

At the center is laughter as a shared experience. Jango Edwards describes the clown’s task as recalling a carefree time and making at least one person laugh and cheerful – everything beyond that is a bonus. Humor does not work through language alone; clown plays are internationally understandable because they work with body, music, juggling, acrobatics, magic tricks, and pantomime. This way, every child and every adult can find something that appeals to them – and in the best case, a smile emerges that connects rather than divides.

We believe that everyone was born a clown: small, innocent, free, and with a smile on their face. In the course of growing up, the significance of this laughter often fades into the background – and this is exactly where clown work begins: it reminds us that a smile can be a shield that gives love and trust. With humor and relaxation, clowning can even support health and healing, because it encourages trying new things and allowing pure joy of life for a short time.

From this attitude comes our show “On A Magical Mystery Detour.” In it, the audience encounters characters such as the fakir Ali Bamba, the mind reader Dr. Dam Mad, or the mysterious Swandini – a “swan” that is really just a silly chicken. We play all these characters ourselves for cost reasons, and none of them wears a red nose; what matters is not the mask, but the invitation to laugh together.

Anyone who wants to experience this form of clowning will have the opportunity in autumn in Klagenfurt: The Fools Brothers perform “On A Magical Mystery Detour” at the Veranstaltungszentrum Klagenfurt, Alpen-Adria-Platz 1. Dates and ticket information can be found on the event center’s website. And to quote Jango Edwards: “All you need is laugh.”