Cast member profile: Marcella Manzilli

Born in south Italy, Marcella Manzilli is an accomplished international clown and circus performer. When she realised that making people laugh was her biggest joy she decided to make it her work and has not stopped since.

She studied at the Circus School Carampa in Madrid and graduated from the Circus Space in London, where she specialised in flying trapeze.She also attended numerous clown workshops with the prestigious teachers Philippe Gaulier, Firenza Guidi, Mick Barnfather and Angela de Catsro.

She has worked for NoFit State Circus, Company F/Z, Bureau of Silly Ideas, Helsinki Winter Circus and Cirque Valo. Over the past seven years she has performed her solo comedy static trapeze act ‘Miss Glamour’ internationally at cabarets and festivals, including Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris. She has been touring with NoFit State Circus for four years performing flying trapeze and clowning. Currently she is part of a trio cradle comedy act with Petri Ekqvist and Tanwen Watson.

Q and A

What is your proudest achievement?
To find a job that I really enjoy doing!

What do you enjoy most about performing?
The silence before the audience’s laugh and, when they do laugh, the release of happiness and positive energy. I can feel their joy and I am proud of myself as a clown.

What are your most memorable performances?
Montreal, Canada in the Tohu Theatre with the NoFit State show Tabu in 2010 – it was amazing! And the show at Festival Mundial du Cirque de Demain was the scariest and most exciting thing I have done as a performer.

What are you looking forward to about performing at Eden?
I’m excited that I’ll be with such a big group of performers from all
over the world in such an amazing location.

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