Pepa Plana Leads Women's Clowning Workshop on Embracing Self-Mockery

Renowned Catalan clown Pepa Plana recently led a contemporary clowning workshop at Centre Cultural La Llacuna, where nine female participants explored the comedy of self through professional techniques.

The sessions emphasized embracing personal mistakes and mocking one's own failures, with Plana stressing that true clowning requires transparency and sincerity. "Two calls and we start," she announced before the third session, highlighting how even silence and a specific gaze can provoke laughter from an audience that truly understands the performer. "You can only make laugh those who love you," she explained, underscoring the intimate connection needed for success.

Participants, all women, described the experience as transformative. Maite, who previously attended a workshop with Plana years ago, said she always sensed an inner clown but needed to investigate it further. She aims to laugh more at herself and apply humor daily, calling it essential despite barriers like geopolitics. "It's a pleasure" working with Plana, she added, praising the balance of theory and practice.

Txell, with a background in performing arts, viewed the workshop as a unique opportunity to refine her skills. She connected quickly to its playful focus on personal truth and authenticity, without pretense. "We tend to overfill and try too hard," she noted. "What matters is finding the core of performance—something polished, concrete, original, and primary—by shedding the adult gaze."

Anna, an amateur actress drawn to comedic roles, contrasted clowning with traditional theater. "In theater, we act a role with lots of gestures," she said. "Here, we've learned clowning is sincere: just step on stage, look honestly, and you can make people laugh—no text or big actions needed, just attitude." She called training with Plana a privilege, given her vast experience and the small group size.

Plana addressed how adulthood layers on inhibitions—fear of seeming ridiculous, pathetic, or fragile—urging participants to peel them away. While self-mockery is healthy in safe spaces, she cautioned against public ridicule of one's flaws. She distinguished clowning from stand-up comedy through its universal human essence: "Our code is timeless; I can perform my act here or in Helsinki."

The priority, she said, is connection over mere laughter. "The world must understand you, love you, connect with your universe. It's impossible to laugh with someone you don't love." Plana also serves as artistic director of Andorra's International Clowns Festival (FIPA), a biennial event.