KNOW’S, NO’S, NOSE.

Written by Ella Bryson (she/her)

Knows, No’s, Nose. A comedy genre play all about clowns. In Knows, No’s, Nose two clowns contemplate the complexities of clowning whilst living together in their share house. After seeing the show, Ella Bryson spoke with the creative team about the behind-the-scenes of putting together a comedy play.

An invigorating take on the comedy genre, Knows, No’s, Nose is witty, wonderful and even at times emotional. Knows, No’s, Nose shows us the hilarity and intricate details of the behind-the-scenes life of a clown. It shows the audience how two clowns balance friendship, home life and the very important and serious art of clowning. A show that will inevitably have you in stitches. Bought to life by a creative team of emerging artists all in their final year of study at the Victorian College of the Arts, Know’s, No’s, Nose was not a show to miss out on.

Photography done by Reuben James

The world of Knows’, No’s, Nose was written and acted by Alice Ridgway and devised with director Izzy Brown-Rogers and actor Maddie Johnston. Claudia Harris produced the showing for the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. With an incredibly funny and talented team, the hilarious script came to life. Immediately, the crowd was laughing at the remarks between the actors. From the first five minutes, you were aware it was going to be an amazing show.

“I think it was challenging at the beginning to imagine a world that we didn’t know anything about, visually, but Al’s [writer Alice Ridgway] writing is so funny and clever on its own that it felt really exciting to colour in the picture. There was a great sense of freedom and possibility,” said Maddie.

The show completed its second showing in April during the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Maddie talks about the differences between the debut showing and the April showing:

“The relationship between Clown A and Clown B shifts a lot in the new rendition which was really exciting! We really enjoy playing with status and power between the two.”

Where clowns are not just people in costumes but self-aware individuals with a big red nose, Knows, No’s, Nose takes the audience through the complex reality of being a great clown. The question the audience is left to ponder throughout is: Is a clown funny without the big red nose?

“Writing comedy is hard because sometimes things are just funny in the moment. When I read it again, it loses its impact. I think trust is really important. Knowing when to keep a scene and when it's not adding to the story [is important],” said Alice.

The opening scene starts off animated and energetic. You are thrown into another world immediately. The way Clown A and Clown B react and respond to each other has been perfected. A light and welcoming atmosphere was created with the familiarity of some of the jokes and pop-culture references. The audience was at ease and laughs were had throughout the show immediately. The actors had clearly practised the show to perfection. The jokes had been expertly crafted and delivered, and the meticulous comedic timing was faultless.

As well as the unexpected and comical movements of both clowns on stage that elevated the entire script. The audience was left on their toes at all times not knowing how Clown A would respond to Clown B leaving an air of excitement to find out which direction the scene would take, with nothing off the table. Maddie explains:

“The amount of trust in the room is really special, we’re essentially just trying to make each other laugh and that feels awesome.”

Not only on stage but between scenes, the audience could hear the clowns bickering behind the curtains which was hysterical and encouraged the audience to feel like they were watching the life between the clowns and not just seeing a show they've paid to see. Every decision to get Know’s, No’s, Nose finalised was visceral to the final production.

Lighting and Sound done by Darcie Campbel played a humorous role in the show elevating moments with meticulous timing. The finale scene broke the audience into stitches when a very emotional 80’s dance scene happened. With tactful timing from Darcie and the final song composition done by Sasha Kaiser, the play was effortlessly funny.

Know’s, No’s Nose was a humorous and unique take on clowning. With clowns who are not only funny but are self-aware, existential and internalising complex feelings about clowning and their own personal lives, the audience was constantly laughing. The show was intentional and calculated with every element of the play refined perfectly.

Know’s, No’s, Nose throws you headfirst into the whirlwind that is the life of a clown for the entire 50-minute show.