Gary Edwards - founder of the CLOWN ACADEMY has spent a lifetime working professionally in performing arts. He studied music and theatre in California, before earning a full scholarship to the Dell Arte School of Physical Theatre.

From the 70’s to the late 90’s Gary toured extensively, playing theatres and festivals all over the world, from North and South America to Asia and Europe. In Europe alone, he has performed thousands of times and in over 20 countries. He is an accomplished clown, playwright, musician, author, painter and world renowned teacher of clowning.

A man with glasses and a red clown nose making a surprised face

As a teacher, Gary has brought hundreds of professional clowns into the world. He developed the Five Pillars of Clowning, a unique approach to the study of clowning as well as several other innovative teaching techniques. His workshops are effective, joyous and inspirational. You will come away a better clown.

Empty attic room with wooden floor, stage with red curtains, and stage lighting equipment.

Aerial view of a house with red-tiled roof, white walls, and a glass conservatory, surrounded by a lush green garden with a patio, umbrella, and outdoor furniture in a rural setting.

In 2001 Gary founded Zdravotni Klaun in the Czech Republic, one of the largest hospital clowning organisations in the world, where he served as Artistic Director until 2013. He went on to develop and teach medical clowning projects in Slovakia, Poland, Palestine and Jordan. He has also taught clowning in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Lithuania, among others.