Reg Bolton

Reginald Ernest Bolton (November 13, 1945 - July 14, 2006), was a clown, teacher, actor and writer.

Life

Reg was born in Margate, England. He was educated at the University of Warwick, where he studied English and European literature. In 2004 he completed a PhD, [http://prospero.murdoch.edu.au/search/Xbolton+reg&Go=+go+&searchscope=1&SORT=A/Xbolton+reg&Go=+go+&searchscope=1&SORT=A/1%2C5%2C5%2CB/frameset&FF=Xbolton+reg&SORT=A&5%2C5%2C "Why Circus Works: how the values and structures of circus make it a significant developmental experience for young people"] , at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia.

He married Annie Stainer [cite web|url =http://www.totaltheatre.com.au/annie.htm | title =Annie Stainer | publisher =Total Theatre | accessdate =2006-07-31] , a dancer, mime and clown, with whom he had two children, Jo and Sophie.

Work

Reg worked tirelessly with children and communities both in the United Kingdom, and in Australia where he settled with his family in 1985. He owned and ran the [http://www.circusshop.net/CircusShopIndex.htm Circus Shop] , selling a range of circus equipment such as juggling gear and unicycles.

He wrote and produced many works [cite web|url = http://www.circusshop.net/cv.htm | title =CV of Reg Bolton | accessdate =2006-07-31] , including:

*1983 "Circus in a suitcase". A practical manual. New York
*1987 "New circus". A world survey. London. Occasional journal "Suitcase Circus News".
*1988 Videos "Circus skills" and "School circus"
*1992 Video "Safe circus"
*1995-98 Regular columnist for "Laugh-Makers" (USA) and "Pro-Circus" (Australia)
*1996-04 Occasional contributor to "Spectacle"
*1998 "Showtime". Best-selling children’s book, (Premier’s Book Award, 2000)
*1999 Paper on "Circus as Education' in "Australasian Drama Studies"
*2001 Keynote Speaker, Festival of American Youth Circus Organisation, Sarasota, Florida. Theme: "Circus to save the world".
*2002 "Intensity in tent city". Leeds University, England
*2003 Keynote Speaker, International Clowns Symposium, Weston super Mare, England. "Clown abuse".
*2003 Article: ‘The Philosopher on the Flying Trapeze’. "Discourse", San Francisco.
*2003 "The wisdom of clowns"
*2004 PhD paper: " [http://prospero.murdoch.edu.au/search/X?t:why%20circus%20works Why Circus Works] : how the values and structure of circus make it a significant developmental experience for young people"

A [http://regbolton.org/notice_board/index.php?topic=12.0 list] of his many accomplishments has been provided by his son, Jo.

Death

Reg died unexpectedly while working in Kununurra, Western Australia at the Agricultural Show [cite web|url =http://www.kimberleyecho.com/archive/2006/20060720/story05.html | title =To be missed by many | publisher =Kimberley Echo | accessdate =2006-07-31] , "doing what he did best, putting on a great show" [cite news|last=Glover|first=Tina|date:2006-07-26| url =http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/obituary/0,,1830053,00.html | title =Reg Bolton: Clowning showman who took new circus round the world | publisher =The Guardian | accessdate =2006-07-31] . His funeral [cite web|url = http://flexnib.blogspot.com/2006/07/reg-boltons-funeral.html | title =Reg Bolton's Funeral | accessdate =2006-07-31] was held at St George's Cathedral in Perth, Western Australia on July 29, 2006, with a celebration [cite web|url = http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2006/07/30/a-goodbye-celebration/ | title =Celebration of Reg's life | accessdate =2006-07-31] of his life held at the Camelot Theatre, Mosman Park on July 30, 2006.

Notes and Reference

External links

* [http://www.regbolton.org/ The Life and Work of Reg Bolton] " A tribute website dedicated to social circus pioneer Dr. Reg Bolton (1945 - 2006) . It includes a photo library, notice board & other archives."