About Us
W. Todd Durrance (Founder and Director) holds a degree in theatre directing from Millikin University. He is a theatre educator, award-winning stage director and professional theatre clown with over 25 years of experience. He has had the opportunity to teach theatre in various schools in California and Arizona including Switch Performing Arts School, San Diego Jr. Theatre, San Diego School of Creative & Preforming Arts and Calvary Christian Academy, among others, teaching acting, directing, mime, mask, clown, comedy improv, playwriting and stage makeup. He has produced and directed AngelTread (an all female touring mime/movement group) Todd is the founder of Vintage Clown Matter where he has performed and toured in his original clown shows, street clowning and parades in the San Diego and LA areas since 2010.
“I was one of those kids fascinated with anything to do with performing: puppets, magic, acting and clowning. I had the privilege to train with one of San Diego’s great mimes, Mark Winzel and later Bill Virches. I have also trained with two professional clowns through San Diego State University where I have received a “Clownology” diploma as well as training with my mentor and seasoned clown teacher Misha Usov (a professional clown from Russia and clown for Cirque Du Soleil)”.
The theatre has a rich history of what we broadly call “physical theatre”, dance theatre, clown, comedia, and mime all could fall into this category. But “physical comedy”, more specifically is a form of comedy focused on manipulating the body for a humorous effect. I have long been fascinated with the idea of communicating without words – clown, silent film, mask theatre and mime. I teach mime as part of my actor training because the actor needs to reconnect to body expression. Over the years I have taught several physical comedy classes with my advanced students testing ideas and working out performance technique and theory.
At RED NOSE UNIVERSITY , we train performers to create performances that can make people laugh, cry and feel about their character on a deep level – much like we feel when we watch a good movie. A good movie engages all of the emotions and somehow in the process we learn something about ourselves.
Traditional circus clown doesn’t go there. The early silent film comedians sometimes take us there but for a contemporary audience there is a disconnect. Most of Chaplin’s films are a commentary on the time in which he was living, which any good art should do. Although I will add, with today’s present economy, Chaplin films begin to take on a fresh perspective. We like what Cirque Du Soleil is doing with their clowns (at times mysterious, sad, thoughtful and funny) but no real character development.
So, we want to create clown theatre or physical comedy that brings all these elements together, may have no spoken dialogue, and yet captivate an audience. This is one big reason why Red Nose University exists. We feel there is a need today to speak into the troubled times in which we live - enter the Red Nose University performer. They know they are important and have something to share that can change the mind and heal the soul… clown poetry in motion; connecting to both the young and old.
"...in life, like on the stage nothing is completely negative or positive. There is always a tear ready to clear away the smile or vice-versa. And who could better show this than the clown".
~ Laura Novelli