Spiritual Masters and the Clown

Spiritual Masters and the Clown

Many spiritual masters have one thing in common: a great sense of humour. Some of them (Christ included) have been dubbed Holy Fools. Indeed, it has been the role of Sacred Clowns in different traditions to shake up the status quo whenever things got too dogmatic or serious.

Join us for a week in the company of Rumi, Rabia, Hafiz, the Buddha, Uzume, Jesus and more to take our spiritual questing a little more lightly, to laugh at ourselves in the many mirrors of what it is to be human. Click here for a conversation with Vivian Gladwell and Ashley Ramsden concerning this course.

Vivian and Ashley began teaching the skills of their different crafts ( clowning and storytelling) back in the eighties; together they will bring you over 70 years of their experience,  mistakes, momentary epiphanies and mutual madness.

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The cost of this course is £520 – a small number of places are available for bursaries from Emerson, please email the registrar. If you are ready to apply please click here or the booking link.

To book meals and accommodation please contact our bookings team.

Zoom Insight Sessions

Are you curious about clowning?  Would you like an opportunity to meet the course leaders and learn more?  We are offering online ‘insight’ sessions which will give you the chance to do just that.  To register, select a date and time from the options below:
Monday 13th January 2025 at 7pm GMT / 8pm CET
Saturday 18th January 2025 at 2pm GMT / 3pm CET

Event Details:
9 Mar 2025 - 15 Mar 2025
Sunday - Saturday
19:30 Start
12:30 End 

Accommodation and meals:
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Medical Section Summer School 2025
new
16 Aug 2025 - 23 Aug 2025    
18:00 - 09:30
Following the enlivening Summer Schools at Penmaenmawr 2023 and Tintagel 2024 we are delighted to announce dates for the 2025 Medical Section Summer School, to...
Courage to Be – Clown Level 1
new
17 Aug 2025 - 22 Aug 2025    
18:15 - 14:00
with Vivian Gladwell and Ali Stockford The word “courage” comes from a root that means “heart.” Through clowning and connecting to our playful spirit we...
Events on 16 Aug 2025
Medical Section Summer School 2025
16 Aug 25
Forest Row
Events on 17 Aug 2025
Medical Section Summer School 2025
16 Aug 25
Forest Row
Courage to Be – Clown Level 1
17 Aug 25
Forest Row
Events on 18 Aug 2025
Medical Section Summer School 2025
16 Aug 25
Forest Row
Courage to Be – Clown Level 1
17 Aug 25
Forest Row
Events on 19 Aug 2025
Medical Section Summer School 2025
16 Aug 25
Forest Row
Courage to Be – Clown Level 1
17 Aug 25
Forest Row
Events on 20 Aug 2025
Medical Section Summer School 2025
16 Aug 25
Forest Row
Courage to Be – Clown Level 1
17 Aug 25
Forest Row
Events on 21 Aug 2025
Medical Section Summer School 2025
16 Aug 25
Forest Row
Courage to Be – Clown Level 1
17 Aug 25
Forest Row
Events on 22 Aug 2025
Medical Section Summer School 2025
16 Aug 25
Forest Row
Courage to Be – Clown Level 1
17 Aug 25
Forest Row
Events on 23 Aug 2025
Medical Section Summer School 2025
16 Aug 25
Forest Row
Detailed Timings:

This course runs 9 - 14 March 2025, timings as follows: Sunday - 19:30 - 21:00 Monday - Wednesday - 9:00 - 12:30 / 14:30 - 18:00 Thursday - 9:00 - 12:30 / 14:30 - 16:00 / 19:30 - 21:00 Friday - 9:00 - 12:30

Venue:

Emerson College
Emerson College, Hartfield Road

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