About
Dirliebane (meaning funny bone in Scots) Theatre Company creates clown theatre performances for children, young people and their families.
Our shows involve gentle, character clowning that creates naïve, optimistic, fun, light characters that children and young people can engage with.
Dirliebane is Perth Theatre’s Children’s Theatre Company in Residence.
Artistic Team
The Artistic Directors, Fiona Ferrier and Rachel Colles, have extensive experience in clown devising, performing and improvising for children and young people. Everything they create for Dirliebane is in partnership with children and young people. They are both also therapeutic clowns with Hearts and Minds, working in hospitals, hospices and Additional Support Needs schools. In their work they use slapstick, humour, rhythm, music, improvising and storytelling to create open, playful and interactive engagement with 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 and desperate to create wonderful clown theatre for children and young people. Fiona also teaches drama and clown with her own company, Skedaddle Youth Theatre.
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.