|French artistes train Indian enthusiasts in Jaipur's clown theatre|National[Jaipur{Jaipur, Sept 15 (ANI): A group of French clown theatre artistes are imparting training to theatre enthusiasts in clown theatre in Jaipur.

The troop of seven French artistes led by John Pierre, a renowned French clown director together with a handful of their Indian counterparts, are training hard in clown theatre to send out a social message on HIV/AIDS awareness.

Slightly different from conventional theatre, clown theatre involves an artist to directly interact with the audience and share its feelings.

"It is not theatre. Theatre is to play a situation but a clown plays with the audience and it shows its feelings to the audience. It is communication with the audience," said Pierre. The workshop helps in cultural exchange. It enables the artistes to get an insight into the Indian culture and vice versa.

"Its very interesting because we can mix with Indian experience. We try to get to understand Indian culture through the approach of a clown," said Anna, a Swiss theatre artiste.

Clown theatre is basically a French art of demonstration, which is full of humour, freedom, fun, happiness, emotion, action and drama.

Through the workshop, the artists are also learning how to communicate on social issue like AIDS, child labour, dowry, and child marriage sensitively.

The workshop will be conducted till September 21. By Lokendra Singh (ANI)