When I was in Guatemala I saw a social movement starting because of our street performance. Clowns Without Borders is not meant as a politically or socially oriented physical theater. CWB intends to present the most basic comic devices to a diverse audience.

We were attempting to perform in a central park that had just been rebuilt after Hurricane Stan destroyed the previeous park. We were unaware that the local government and law enforcement was being caucious of the new park. When we began to draw a crowd the police stepped in and told us to leave. The audience then began to make comments about public property and peoples rights.

We decided to move our show to anouther location and were able to bring most of the crowd with us. The authorities were mainly interested in keeping the integrity of the park and avoiding the freshly planted flower beds from getting trampled. There was still a large amount of tension in this setting, but thats not the end of the story.

We went to the courthouse and tried to get a permit to have a performance. We got letters written in our favor, sat in the mayors, and talked to various officials. The police who had stopped us the other day were very rude and didn't like us overriding ther authority. The mayor never showed up and we had to find another park again.

I don't know if this is a good example for you. If I was not worried about being arrested in a foreign country I could have taken the situation further.

Good Luck!

XOX
Shea FreeLove