Welcome to ClownUnity
Teeth and Tenderness

Vision

This page breathes life into a vision — a mix of story, intention and invitation. Meander through or head straight to the "Way In" bit. WYKYK.Teeth and Tenderness is a creative, heart‑opening, clown experience that celebrates humanity in a post‑truth world.Grounded in safety yet willing to take risks, it's a project that combines bite and softness, truth and absurdity, vulnerability and wild joy.This offering is fed by the 2024 Brighton Fringe Community Award, presented to the #LewesCurious events curated by me, Anna Free.Continuing the pay‑it‑forward chain of community creativity — one offering makes space for the next and keeps the door open for collaboration, play, and collective imagination.The final performances invite the audience into the experience — not as passive consumers, but as part of the living, breathing moment.Breaking the fourth wall isn’t a gimmick; it’s a value. It’s a way of saying:We all belong, and you are welcome here.

Exploration

In a culture obsessed with productivity, polish, and performance, this project is different and accepts:* creativity as a birthright
* community as a source of strength
* ritual as a way of thriving
* play as a form of connection
* humanity as something to be shared, not perfected.The process of playing and the emergent experience is of equal importance as the final show.We’re building a community through shared silliness, care, and presence, making something beautiful, messy, and human together.The performances are simply the moment where we open the doors and let the audience feel the heart, courage and connection that shaped the work.

Collaboration

The show we create together will be a living, breathing thing — shaped by the players and the magic that emerges when people play authentically and with care.A space where clowning becomes a way of meeting ourselves and each other — not as performers trying to impress, but as humans willing to be seen.The show will include:* moments of solo or small‑group play
* ensemble moments
* audience participation that feels safe, joyful, and connective
*moments where the audience and players meet each other
* humour that comes from truth, not tricks
* tenderness with teeth, and teeth with tenderness.It will not be polished in a traditional theatre sense. It will be crafted, held, and alive — a communal act of presence.My role is to hold the container, guide the process, and shape the final piece so it feels coherent, safe, and resonant.

Inclusion

This is an open, inclusive space for everyone — neurodivergent, neurotypical, questioning, curious — anyone who wants to be part of a community built on care, creativity, and the freedom to be.A space where different ways of thinking, feeling, processing, and expressing are welcomed and valued as part of the collective imagination.Neurodivergent people have always been at the heart of creativity — the artists, the visionaries, the rule‑breakers, yet too often, they’ve had to squeeze themselves into shapes that were never made for them. This project says: enough.This is a space where people don’t have to mask, shrink, or contort themselves to fit someone else’s idea of “normal.”

Mission

Five Friday workshops between January and May. Each day runs from 10.30am to 4.30pm with natural breaks.When:
Session 1 (and Taster Session): Friday 23 January
Session 2: Friday 27 February
Session 3: Friday 20 March
Session 4: Friday 17 April
Session 5: Friday 22 MayWhere:
Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton, either in the Meeting Room (the performance space) or the Lecture Room.Taster/Intro Session:* a gentle doorway into the project
* a chance to feel the space
* a way to meet each other.
* Cost £30 (taken off cost when you sign up).If you're ready to join, use the sign-up sheet below. If you still have questions, email me at [email protected] or message 07900 827839.

The Way In

This project is for people who are:* into clowning, comedy, improv etc
* curious about clowning and comedy
* want to explore creativity in a held, spacious environment
* neurodivergent, neurotypical, questioning, or unsure
* want to be part of a Fringe show
* want to play, connect, and be witnessed
* want to be part of a pay‑it‑forward ethos
* want to make something alive, silly, tender, and real.
* want to be part of a communityIf this is you, or you want it to be:1) Sign up for the full project or taster session below
2) Choose your payment amount
3) Select a payment plan if needed
4) Begin the journeyTaster Session PolicyThe Taster Session (Fri 23rd Jan) is the only open session and costs £30 to attend.After that, the container closes, so trust can build.

The Shows

We will perform the show three times during Brighton Fringe 2026.Each performance is:
* collaboratively created
* modular (not everyone on stage at once)
* audience‑inclusive
* playful, tender, and alivePerformance & Dress Rehearsal Dates:
Tuesday 26 May — Friends and Family
Saturday 30 May
Sunday 31 MayAll from 6–9pm with the performance at 7.30pm

The Green Bottle Method of Pricing

This project proposes the Green Bottle Method (created by Alexis J Cunningfolk) to help you choose a fee that reflects your financial reality.💚 The Nearly Empty Bottle £120–£180For those who:
* frequently stress about basic needs and don't always meet them,
* whose debt sometimes prevents meeting basic needs
* who rent lower-end or have unstable housing
* qualify for government assistance with no access to savings
* rarely buy new items
* are unable to afford vacations or time off without financial burden.💚The Half Bottle £200–£280For those who :
* stress about basic needs, but generally meet them
* are employed (even if part-time),
* have limited financial savings
* have some expendable income but need to save for larger purchases
* buy a mix of new and thrifted items💚The Full Bottle £280–£380For those who :
* comfortably meet all basic needs
* may have debt that doesn't hinder their basic needs attainment
* own their home or rent a higher-end property
* have financial savings and expendable income
* can afford vacations or time off.Please also take a moment to reflect on what dedicating 39 hours of your time and energy to this project might offer you in return.What Your Money Supports:* nurturing your uniqueness
* venue hire
* the emotional, creative, and logistical labour of holding the space
* the pay‑it‑forward ethos creating
accessibility for others
* the sustainability of the project
* equipment and materials.Payment Plans AvailableA) Two‑part plan: 50% upfront, 50% before the final workshop
B) Three‑month plan: payments across Jan–Mar.