Dirlie+bane
Funny
bone
Dirliebane Theatre Company creates clown theatre performance and creative engagement programmes for babies, children and young people. The company is a collaboration between the two Artistic Directors, Fiona and Rachel, and our artform is character clown – clowns that are open, optimistic, present and playful. We created Dirliebane out of a shared passion for connecting with audiences through clown. It is the foundation of all we do.
Our shows involve gentle, character clowning that creates naïve, optimistic, fun, light characters that children and young people can engage with.
Beginning in 2016, Dirliebane Theatre Company has toured productions to schools and venues throughout Scotland, tickling the funny bone of thousands of babies, children and young people. Our creative engagement programmes connect clown to communities, with sustained benefit for participants through engaging with the arts, play and fun.
In 2024 Dirliebane became Perth Theatre’s first Children’s Theatre Company in Residence, and in 2025 Dirliebane became part of the multi- year-funding portfolio at Creative Scotland.
We are a small, passionate team with a large, growing family of long-term artists.
Creative Scotland
Dirliebane Theatre Company is funded by Creative Scotland as part of the Multi-Year Funding portfolio.
Perth Theatre
Dirliebane is Perth Theatre’s Children’s Theatre Company in Residence.
On Tour
Our next tour is BIG in Spring 2026
Rachel Colles – Artistic Director
Rachel trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and has worked in theatre and cabaret across the country including Forest Forge Theatre Company, Pentabus Theatre Company, Polka Theatre for Children, Lancaster Dukes, Bard in the Botanics and the Scottish Ensemble. She trained in clown with Pierre Byland and John Wright and has worked as a Clowndoctor and Elderflower since 2007. Rachel is Co-Artistic Director of Dirliebane Theatre Company with Fiona creating and touring clown theatre shows for children and young people.
Fiona Ferrier – Artistic Director
Fiona is a clown, theatre maker and youth theatre artist. Fiona trained at Playspace Clown School in Sydney in 2002, and has worked for Hearts & Minds since 2004. She has also trained with Jos Houben, John Wright and Pierre Byland. Fiona has previously created and toured clown shows in co-production with Mull Theatre and The Clown Conpsiracy. Fiona created Dirliebane Theatre Company with Rachel as they are both passionate about creating clown theatre for children and young people. Fiona also teaches drama and clown with her own company, Skedaddle Youth Theatre.
