Clowns face extinction as they plot plan to avoid wasting career at disaster assembly

Clowns are facing their job going extinct as they face ‘turbulent times’ and are now banding together at a crisis summit this weekend in a bid to save the industry

Clowns will try to work out how they can make their profession more “relevant, accessible and inclusive” at a crisis summit – and no we’re not talking about JD Vance…

They will gather to figure out how to save themselves from extinction (like Ronald McDonald) and what the future holds for them during “turbulent times”.

The Clown Congress, in Bristol, will see them attempt to discover what it means to be a jester “in this current era”.

Their crunch talks this weekend comes after the demonising of clowns in modern movies like IT, featuring the villain Pennywise, and a big drop in bookings.

The entertainers will look to find out whether the “old models of our artforms” need “re-imagining to suit the times we are in”. They aim to answer the key question of “what is the future of clowning” during the two-day event, which starts on Saturday.

The organisers said: “Calling all clowns!

“Come gather with us for two days of deep, meaningful, playful and irreverent exploration of the future of our beloved artform.

“The Clown Congress is a space of inquiry; a place to collectively ask what does it mean to be a clown in this current era? In times of crisis and change, the old models of our artforms may need re-imagining to suit the times we are in.”

If the poll isn’t showing up, click here

It is open to performers including “clown doctors”, “humanitarian clowns” and “dreamers”.

The gathering follows warnings that Hollywood films are killing off the circus act by making people too scared of clowns.

Circus chiefs have reduced the number of characters in full clown make-up as a response, in the hope they’ll attend performances.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.