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Pierrot Hero: The Story of Clifford Essex

Pierrot Hero: The Story of Clifford Essex: Episode 1: How It All Began

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Episode 1: How It All Began

How It All Began

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Pierrot Hero: The Story of Clifford Essex, How It All Began

Tony Lidington tells the story of the founder of Britain's first Pierrot troupe.

4 Extra Debut. Tony Lidington tells the story of Clifford Essex, who founded Britain's first Pierrot troupe back in 1891. From January 2013.

A selection of readings from the personal memoirs of Clifford Essex, which have remained unpublished since they first appeared in magazine format in the 1920s. In this episode, Essex has the idea of forming a pierrot troupe and taking it to Henley Regatta.

The seaside pierrot troupe is an uniquely British art form, which began in 1891. That year, a gifted banjo player and producer of entertainments for society events, called Clifford Essex, watched a performance of L'Enfant Prodigue at The Prince of Wales Theatre. It was a largely mimed performance featuring a family of pierrots and it gave Essex the idea of costuming a concert party in white satin, pompoms and ruffles, to perform banjo pieces at The Henley Regatta and, later that year, at Cowes.

The project was a resounding success and led to his troupe performing throughout the country for almost three decades. During this time, the idea was copied and developed in such a way that, by the 1920s, there were more than 500 pierrot troupes performing along the coasts of Britain. These troupes were the stand-up comedy club and indie pop charts of their day - it was here that artists honed their craft by learning old routines and developing new ideas. They paved the way for the styles of music and humour that subsequently found a mass audience on radio and television.

The reader, Tony Lidington is known by many people as 'Uncle Tacko', leader and founder of The Pierrotters, the last-remaining professional, seaside pierrot troupe in Britain, now in its 27th year of performing.


Abridged and read by Tony Lidington
Producer: David Blount
A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4.

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Tony Lidington tells the story of the founder of a troupe of English Pierrot entertainers

Tony Lidington, leader of the country's last professional seaside Pierrot troupe, reads from the memoirs of Clifford Essex, who founded Britain's first troupe in 1891

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