Gieu Ty Can

Fascinated by the practice of clowning (hề) that exists in traditional performing art forms such as chèo, I set out to decode and deconstruct the act of “making fun”. While the performance of “clowning” is a comedic act and often contains elements of improvisation, the practice itself is much more layered and goes beyond spontaneity. In order to reach the point where one can make fun of something, they have to go through a process of examination - reflection, resisting - negotiating. “Clowning”, in many ways, can be considered a calculated act of social rebellion. With performers from contemporary and traditional backgrounds, we experiment with movement, shadow play and theatrical practice to examine the external, reflect on the internal, to resist the existent structure and finally, to make peace with ourselves. What has come out of it is a research performance that is not a continuation of the traditional “clowning” but an attempt at simulating the spirit that fueled this tradition.