stage left: Le festival des Clowns de montréal
Le Festival des Clowns de Montréal
March 25, 2025
TEXT CONTENT FROM GRAPHIC ABOVE
Title of event: Le Fesival Clowns de Montréal
Run dates: April 4-12, 2025
Performance venues:
Gesù, 1200 Rue de Bleury
Maison de la Culture Claude-Léveillée, 911 rue Jean-Talon Es
La Toscadura, 4388 St Laurent Blvd
La Sotterenea, 4848 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
P’tit Ours, 5589 Avenue du Parc
Tickets/Website: https://www.mtlclownfest.com/2025/
Give us an elevator pitch of your show.
The 8th edition of the Festival des Clowns de Montréal runs from April 4–12, 2025. This year, we’re focusing on building connections—strengthening partnerships and reaching new neighborhoods while celebrating the art of clowning, and the joy and laughter it brings.
Over eight days, the festival will feature shows and activities across the city. We’ll start at the Gésù Theatre on April 4–5, then move to venues in the Plateau, Mile End, and Villeray–Parc-Extension–Saint-Michel. La Maison de la Culture Claude-Léveillée will host two free shows programmed by the festival.
We’re expanding our audience while bringing the clown community together. The lineup includes performances, workshops, and discussions—creating space for artists to connect, share, and grow. This year highlights local talent from Montreal and beyond.
Why is this play important for audiences to see right now?
The world needs clowns to let us laugh at our absurdities and bring us together in divisive times. The clown represents us and reminds audiences of our fragile humanity.
How has the current social or political climate influenced this production?
Bringing people together in a divided time is a guiding vision for the festival. The festival programming aims to present an array of clown forms to a public who may not be aware of the power of clowning.
Clowns use subversive comedy and dramatic tragedy to communicate a message and allow audiences to find both laughter and learning in their failures. The clown is said to find its neutral state by balancing moments of complete ecstasy and total sadness. In this liminal space, the clown holds great potential to reach audiences in search of happiness through the struggles of everyday life. We think clowns play a very valuable role in society.
How does this production align with your company’s mission or artistic vision?
Clowns push boundaries, challenge expectations, and live fully in the moment. They embody vulnerability, honesty, imagination, and empathy. Our programming reflects deep thought and care in bringing this unique art form to a wider audience—a challenge, given our mission to support bold, unconventional, and risk-taking artists and performances.
How does this show fit into the broader season or future plans for your company?
We offer a diverse, high-quality lineup, from the bizarre and absurd to the heartfelt and thought-provoking, all with the goal of bringing artists and audiences together and making space for clowning- an ancient and important art form. The festival showcases both emerging and established artists who challenge, inspire, and expand the perception of modern clowning. Our program also features physical theater, drag, circus, bouffon, and other performance styles linked to the art of clown.
BONUS: If your show had a theme song, what would it be?
Send in the Clowns
Le Festival des Clowns de Montréal
April 4-12, 2025
Various locations in Montréal