Abu Dhabi is about to have a refreshing cool-down this April, as the mesmerising Slava’s Snowshow storms into the capital to take you on a theatrical journey like never before
Forget wobbly unicycle acts, custard pies in faces and water squirting from a fake flower, the clowns of Slava’s Snowshow are far removed from your usual circus performers and are in a magical world of their own. Get ready for an enchanting journey like no other.
The show itself doesn’t have a plot per se, but there is a fluidity to the madness and idiocy that ensues on stage. Don’t expect a start, middle and end to the story, more a journey that will leave you questioning and smiling long after the show has finished.
Patrons of the show will firstly have their eardrums entertained, but not by the honking of horns or crashing of symbols. A captivating score follows the antics onstage, as a crescendo of drums, fluttering flutes and charming cellos all play their part in the incredible show.
Slava’s Snowshow is the brainchild of Slava Polunin, one of Russia’s most famous performing exports, who has been dubbed ‘the best clown in the world.’
The Snowshow-snowball was set rolling over 20 years ago, as he devised an enchanting and heart-warming spectacle – to feature his own clown, the adorable Asisyai. An oversized yellow jumpsuit, a red electric-shocked hairstyle and giant fluffy red slippers make up the outer shell of this character. But it’s the movement and bodywork where this master performer comes into his own, as he evokes, without speaking a word, just how Asisyai is feeling.
His face contorts, his body twists and movements are controlled; this little entertainer is enchanting to watch and it’s difficult not to empathise with him. Asisyai is the only ‘yellow clown’ in this show. Much larger ‘green clowns’ outnumber little Asisyai only to make you feel more protective of this gentle character.
Now 63, Polunin was inspired to take up clowning as a youngster and would mimic the great Charlie Chaplin and Marcel Marceau to entertain his classmates – if not his parents.
Polunin was actually directed towards a career in engineering; a dream his mother had for him from a young age. Yet his passion and desire to perform saw Polunin quit the Engineering and Economic Institute he’d enrolled in and follow his own dream of working in pantomime. Polunin travelled throughout Europe with other performers in small theatres and street shows. Crowds would gather which fuelled his drive to perform. And he quickly found his feet, even if it was in oversized shoes…
Refining his performance skills for more than 40 years, Polunin would often return to his home country to perform and share his love for clowning. The Academy of Fools was born in 1993, where budding red-nosed artists would flock to Moscow to enlist in the school’s unique training process. Polunin trained and recruited performers for his touring projects, but it was here the first cast was assembled for the Snowshow.
This ‘never-ending world tour’ also welcomes many of Polunin’s family as part of the cast and crew. His son, wife and daughter-in-law are all part of the tour’s make-up. Cast members have entertained audiences in over 30 countries and 120 cities including Rio de Janeiro, New York and London. Now the brilliance of the blizzard show has swept to our sandy shores.
Slava’s Snowshow will be on at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on 17th April (3pm and 7.30pm), 18th April (3pm and 7.30pm) and 19th April (11am and 3pm). Tickets are AED 170 and up. For further information visit: www.platinumlist.net
Jack Dignum
We had a chance to chat to the man himself, Slava Polunin
Welcome to Abu Dhabi! Is it the first time you have stepped out of the snow into the desert?
Thank you. Yes, this is our first show in the UAE; it will be very interesting to see how such a diverse audience reacts to our show.
What makes the Snowshow so unique? Are you different from ‘traditional’ clowns?
The clowns and the fools make this show completely unique. All cast members are handpicked on the basis of being 100 per cent authentic fools to act as themselves. The selection criteria is not scientifically empiric and factors such as the size of shoes, the name of the grandmother and the direction of wind can alter the selection process.
Clowns are different like all the other people. Some are serious, some are giggly, some are easygoing and cheerful, and others are dark and gloomy. But the character one creates always reflects one’s personality. That is why the search of one’s personal clown’s mask, the creation of each clown is a very personal and time-consuming affair.
Where did the concept come from?
In this show I had put together a lot of ideas and plans that I had been collecting for years. But the most important of all is the evolution of a tragicomical clown age, which tunes in to the Russian culture.
Does the show tell a story?
We try to take audience members through a journey into the childhood. Into their own childhood, sparkling with their dreams, into mine – covered by the snowy blanket, into ours – filled with anticipations and dreams. A trip into the world of bright colours, true feelings and important small details, that one only notices when little. But anyway, each person sees his (or her) own story in the show, his own world. This is very important to me.
Some people are scared of clowns, should they be scared of you?
If some people are scared of clowns I think they have even more reason to come and watch us on stage, they will find that clowns get sad and hurt too, just like them.
Is each show the same? How do they differ?
The secret of the show’s success throughout the years is the fact that it never stays the same; it keeps changing every day and depends on country, public, artist, cast, the weather and the mood. The zone of improvisation in the show is very wide so each artist can dream up and make up, and may look for new sides of their role again and again. This makes the show alive.
Did each performer receive special training? If so, what kind?
There is no training, no rules, no background or ambitions required. Candidates are invited to put on the green costume and play a part in the show with the audience and minimal preparation.
It takes hundreds of green clowns to make one yellow clown when we get lucky. After 40 years of making clown shows, we have no more than four active yellow clowns. We consider them to be the rarest species in the world. The clowns train to be silly no less than eight hours and 14 minutes per day with no coffee break.
What can patrons expect from the show?
They can expect a snowy, magical evening. The most magical thing in this show is the communication with the public, but it’s not a verbal connection, these are elusive fibers of contact which can appear between an artist and spectator during the show. This subtle interaction is something that creates the magic of the theatre.
What made you want to become a clown?
When I was a child I watched “The Kid” by Charlie Chaplin and it impressed me greatly. I immediately made a cane for myself and started to copy Chaplin’s walk, which set my classmates and friends laughing. Probably the idea of my future occupation unwittingly started to form itself around that time. I believe that I was born a clown, but the conscious desire to be one appeared much later.
What’s the hardest thing about miming?
Miming is the hardest thing about miming, because you have to create a connection with the audience without speaking and you have to take them on a journey without words.
If you weren’t a clown, what career would you choose?
When I was a child I dreamt about being a librarian or a woodsman. And those dreams also came true – I have a huge library and I live in the woods. I believe that I have learned everything I really wanted to learn. Of course there are still things that I would gladly learn, and I do. I learn constantly. From my little granddaughters, for example. They teach me to conceive this
world enthusiastically.
And finally, why snow?
Why not? Snow is pure and snow has this magical effect of warming the heart.
