dance/physical theatre feature

Clowning around in Edinburgh

After their five star success last year, Kate Louise Clarkson catches up with the boys from Le Navet Bete to talk new shows, turnips and just what it is that’s making everyone go crazy for clowns

Meeting Le Navet Bete last year was certainly a memorable experience; it isn’t every day that you get to review and meet a group of clowns. Quite frankly, I’ve been obsessed ever since. But then it’s difficult not to be when the laughs and talent are as good as this. Having followed them on their journey for the past year it’s great to see them return with a new show that promises to be even more bonkers, and better, than before.

TW: You’ve certainly been busy since your success with ‘Serendipity’ last year. Can you tell us a bit about what you’ve been up to?

LNB: It’s been a great first year working as professional clowns. Edinburgh acted as the trampoline that launched us into touring. We have found ourselves working in a number of different venues and institutions, all offering different challenges; from teaching at top universities such as Central School Of Speech And Drama to performing in a tent at Brighton Fringe.


TW: What was your most memorable moment of last year’s Fringe?

LNB: Winning the highest award at our venue [Sweet] and receiving our five star reviews were certainly just a few. Yet by far the most memorable moments were meeting amazing people along the way, many of whom have continued to support and work with us.


TW: And the worst?

LNB: Last year we put our clown heads together and came up with one of the worst ideas ever: to camp at the Edinburgh Fringe! Little did we know how wet it would be as we returned back to base camp blurry eyed to find little else but a flyer, floating where your bed should be.


TW: How does performing at a festival like Edinburgh compare with the touring you do most of the year?

LNB: The Fringe offers something that no other place can offer, thousands of people ready and raring to watch theatre.


TW: How did you come up with the name ‘Zemblanity’ for your new show, and what does it mean?

LNB: Serendipity was a great name for a show and we found that this was how we were remembered. We were looking for a quirky word that would get people talking and would somehow follow on from the success of Serendipity. Zemblanity’s meaning is the exact opposite of Serendipity; the faculty of making unhappy, unlucky and expected discoveries. It’s a great sounding word and the clowns can discover good things or bad things, but they are never intentional.


TW: What can we expect from the new show?

LNB: Last year’s show was extremely raw so we’ve aimed to channel that energy into something a lot more set, yet still keeping an element of chaos and unpredictability. The clowns get more involved with the audience and we are proud to have recorded an entire musical score to still include the live music element from before.


TW: Where did the unusual name of your company Le Navet Bete come from?

LNB: When we first decided to form a theatre company after meeting at University, we were stuck for a long time with what to call ourselves. We wanted something that sounded very serious yet actually meant something utterly stupid. We came across ‘le navet’, which we translated as ‘the turnip.’ Yet we have since been told that this can mean all sorts of things in different French dialects. ‘Bete’ we translated as ‘beast’ but we now know it can be used as ‘daft’, ‘stupid’ or ‘creature.’ When asked we say it means ‘The Daft Turnip.’ The meaning however doesn’t really matter as it never seems to make sense, like the clowns’ intentions!


TW: Where are Le Navet Bete heading next? Tell us what is next on the agenda for this year and beyond.

LNB: The aim now is to take Zemblanity everywhere we have performed so far, as well as to new venues. We have momentum on our side at the moment and we would love to keep it up. We like to keep a ‘no drama’ attitude to touring and don’t like to make a fuss which seems to work in our favour.


TW: Can we see Zemblanity anywhere else after Edinburgh?

LNB: So far we have three dates booked in Plymouth and others in the South West, London and Oxfordshire. There will be other performances up and coming and the best way to keep up to date with Le Navet Bete is to visit www.lenavetbete.com.

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Zemblanity, Le Navet Bete, Bedlam Theatre, 6 - 29 Aug, 9.00pm (10.00pm), £7.00 (£5.00) fpp125.

published: Aug-2009

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