Clowns are not the first people you would expect to find in a war zone but a new Leyton exhibition focuses on four clowns who braved war-stricken countries to bring laughter to children.

The Cir-Kosovo exhibition, which opened on Saturday at the new 491 Gallery in Leyton, displays photographs by Max Reeves who has documented the clowns' activities since 1993, and a film detailing the clowns' antics.

The film can be seen on widescreen at a special showing on Sunday at 7pm at the Vertigo Cinema, 485 Grove Green Road, which is associated with the gallery.

The four clowns, who go by the collective name of Serious Road Trip, have travelled to countries as diverse as Kosovo and Afghanistan to entertain local children traumatised by war.

The group travel around war-torn regions in a van and pull up when they see villages where children are playing. They then give impromptu performances, bringing laughter to children.

As part of their aim to touch children all over the world, the group hope to visit Iraq later in the year.

The clowns' philosophy is simple: "Make laugh, not war."

One, who goes by the name of YoYo, is a film-maker himself and helped to film the adventures. He was at the opening event on Saturday where Neil Goodwin, owner of the 491 Gallery and Vertigo Cinema, said: "The clowns' idea is simple that even in a war zone children have a right to have good memories.

"They can make such a difference. It is a process of healing through laughter. It gives children memories other than military presences and barbed wire."

Mr Goodwin, also a film-maker, hopes that after the Cir-Kosovo show, exhibitions focusing on local people and issues can be put on at the gallery.

The exhibition at the 491 Gallery, Grove Green Road, Leyton, is open daily from 10am until June 15. The film about the clowns can be seen any time on a small screen, but the widescreen version will be shown on Sunday only. Entrance is free, but donations are welcome.

May 30, 2003 14:30