LE GRAND IMBÉCILE-LOTTERy 

DEADLINE THE GRAND IMBECILE FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Open Call – Le Grand Imbécile – Lottery
Show Friday April 11, 2025, 8 pm

The Montreal Clown Festival presents the Grand Imbecile, ready to electrify the festival on its second Friday night with high-energy antics, eccentric performances, and pure fun!

Performance parameters should consider the following: a maximum of 3 minutes on stage, an 18+ audience, no breakable items, no glitter, and no uncontrolled mess.

We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities and welcome performances across various genres, including eccentric and physical acts of all kinds. To ensure accessibility, we offer assistance with the application process upon request. (mtlclownfest@gmail.com)

Lottery will be drawn after applications close (February 28) 15 performers. Waitlist will be notified.

The Grand Imbecile is back, ready to electrify the festival with high-energy antics, eccentric performances, and pure fun on the second Friday night! Once a festival favorite, this talent show captivated audiences for three years, drawing performers from a wide range of disciplines. 

Now, it’s making a triumphant return. Who will capture the audience’s hearts, survive the gong, and claim the crown? After the show, the fun continues with a dance party to keep the energy going. 

Three dynamic judges will crown the “Greatest Fool of the Night,” while our MC, Uma Gahd, keeps the energy soaring. The night will feature 20 short, surprising performances, each under three minutes, chosen by lottery. The audience will cheer on their favorites, while our judges deliver both laughs and gongs to keep the excitement alive.

Le Festival des Clowns de Montreal – Gala Cabaret 2025

📣 Calling all clowns

This call is open to professionals in the categories of clown, comedy, physical theatre, and eccentric performers. We are programming cabaret acts for our Gala Cabaret, “The Misunderstood Cabaret”. Directed by Krin Haglund.
Date of performance: Friday, April 4, 2025, 8 PM.

DEADLINE GALA CABARET FEBRUARY 11, 2025

We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities and welcome performances across various genres, including eccentric and physical acts of all kinds. Submissions can be French, English, bilingual, or non-verbal. To ensure accessibility, we also offer assistance with the application process upon request. We also offer a sliding scale option if you cannot pay the application fee.

We are seeking high-calibre cabaret acts that elevate clowning to the level of fine artistic excellence. We aim to feature artists whose unique and exceptional performances captivate and inspire, as determined by our committee.

REMUNERATION:

Cabaret acts – 400$ plus applicable taxes.

👉 The honorarium is inclusive of artist preparation time, materials and transportation costs. This preparation includes artists’ own rehearsal time and at least one phone call with the director; timely submission of all music, cues, and press information; and a same-day technical rehearsal.

👉 The MTL Clowns mandate is to educate and forward the craft of clown, to nurture and showcase the art, celebrate its history, and to foster a clown community in Montreal and beyond.

👉 The festival has a mission to assemble, showcase, and offer opportunities for audiences and clown professionals to enjoy, discover, and share in the ancient art of clowning. The festival weekend offers workshops, discussions, and new work development opportunities.

👉The Clown Festival encourages participation from marginalized groups such as individuals who identify as IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, persons of colour), LGBTQ2S+, newly settled immigrants and those living with disabilities. We encourage those comfortable to self-disclose any accessibility considerations.