Working Class Clown is a new work by Samoan (Toamua)/ Australian writer, performer and artist Tommy Misa that embodies the transcultural spirit of the fool and their ability to speak truth to power.

Taking inspiration from Samoan clowning, weaving and architecture it layers a story of grief, joy and riot, inspiring us to spiral up from the residue of the past and rebuild new worlds together. A collage of memory, performance, poetry and song, Working Class Clown asks what is possible when we create in togetherness? In Laughing Memory of Mefiposeta Misa.

Performance times

Wed 22 Oct, 6-7.15pm
Thurs 23 Oct, 6-7.15pm (Auslan interpreted)
Fri 24 Oct, 6-7.15pm
Sat 25 Oct, 3-4.15pm
Sun 26 Oct, 2-3.15pm

Content warnings

This work contains themes of grief and loss, references to death and dying, and references to physical violence.

Creative team

Performance Guide: Emma Maye Gibson

Sound Designer: Nadeem Tiafau Eshraghi

Sound Designer: Ripley Kavara

Costumer Designers: Katie Louise and Lilian Nicol-Ford
Working Class Clown is presented by Performance Space as part of Liveworks 2025.

Commissioned by Performance Space for Liveworks Festival 2025 and presented by Performance Space.

Working Class Clown has been co-commissioned by City of Melbourne through Arts House. The work was originally commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney for the 24th Biennale of Sydney and presented by Performance Space and the Biennale of Sydney. Early development of Working Class Clown supported by Create NSW.

Photography by Joseph Mayers