'Nose to Nose' Guest Residential Course: 12th - 16th September 2026
Come away with Nose to Nose for four playful days of clowning on the beautiful Ynys Enlli—a place of wild beauty, sea air, seals and Manx shearwaters. Enjoy locally sourced delicious vegetarian food and stay in one of the islands 1870”s houses.
The word courage comes from a root meaning “heart.” Through clowning and reconnecting with our playful spirit, we can develop and sustain — in ourselves and each other — the heart to be who we truly are, to trust life and to trust ourselves. Taking heart is a profoundly inward process: an invitation to soften the fears that keep us guarded, and to become more fully present in ourselves and what is around us.
The art of clowning consists of freeing ourselves from all roles except one: Our own.
A. Simon ‘La planete des clowns”
Island life has a stillness, a quietness and brings a shear sense of wander that helps us comes back to ourselves. Let the boat crossing shed any roles that you don’t need and gather to play, explore and discover together through games, exercises, short impros and moments of joyful foolishness designed to awaken your inner clown.
We’ll base our activities in our Clown Hideaway and uncover natural stages across the island—on cliff paths, in fields, by the sea. We’ll listen, respond and play with the island itself as our inspiration. There will be voice work on the beach accompanied by the choruses of seals, gentle ensemble work, laughter, stlliness, surprise and space to reconnect with the pleasure of being gloriously human.
Whether you are completely new to clowning or already travelling alongside your clown, this is an invitation to play deeply, fail beautifully and discover what happens when clown meets wilderness.
Tutors
Alison Stockford (she/her)
Alison participated in her first Nose to Nose workshop in 2000 and fell in love with the work. Many workshops later and she is now a trained facilitator with Nose To Nose. She holds this work in high esteem as a perfect grounding for all creative work and the bigger picture of trusting ourselves and life. Alison is a qualified and experienced teacher of over 20 years. She teaches and has taught Drama and Performing Arts in mainstream, special and older peoples settings.
Alison is an experienced performer. She has worked in café-théâtre with Les Amuses Gueules in Lille, France, Street Theatre and Theatre in Education with Inside Out Theatre Company, Hastings. Alison speaks both English and French.
Toby is a drag artist, and dancer and works as a builder by day. They have been training with nose to nose as a clown facilitator and has been transformed by the nose to nose courses. They facilitate groups in the construction and sports industry to build trust and vulnerability within the working and playing culture. They love to play.
Toby has had the fortune to be involved in the building maintenance on Ynys Enlli and fell in love with the island as soon as they stepped off the boat.
Accommodation and prices
Arrival: 12th September
Departure: 16th September
Stay in one of the islands grade 2 listed 1870s farmhouses, and share the living and kitchen space with the group. This is a fully catered week, all meals included in price. For more information about the accommodation please click here.
Prices:
Bed in a twin room: £600
Private room with a double bed: £800
What’s included:
- Delicious vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Tea and coffee and snacks.
- Tutoring, materials
- Accommodation,
- Boat crossing
- Carparking for the duration of the course.
To book a place on this course please contact us on post@enlli.org and title your message: Clown Course 2026
