Workshops

Charmaine’s family would tell you that she has been clowning around since she was a child.  She’s naturally playful and open-hearted with a bent for musicality and clever wordplay. She tried to pursue a more “normal” path in life, but getting a degree in History did nothing to help her fit into society’s boxes, so becoming a clown was, in fact, the most natural course for her! 

Charmaine’s career as a clown and entertainer began in London, Ontario in 1999. There, she was mentored by Town Cryer Bill Paul et al of the London Laff Guards, in the arts of balloon twisting, face painting and singing telegrams.  In September of 2001, Charmaine was hired as a Clown Doctor with Fools For Health, under the tutelage of Dr. Bernie Warren of the University of Windsor.  Striving to keep hospital and party clowning separate, it was then that Trixie’s “younger sixter”, Dr. Tilly Tom-Tom came to be.  For Charmaine, this style of “empty-pockets clowning” meant an expansion of her character-driven improv skills and the overall improvement of her clowning. It was also when she picked up the ukulele. She had the honour and priviledge of serving as a Clown Doctor at hospitals and nursing homes around Southern Ontario for 12 years, alongside a number of very talented clown partners!

In 2003, Charmaine joined MJM Entertainment, performing murder mystery dinner theatre under the brilliantly funny Michelle Mainwairing for the next 10 years, gaining invaluable performance experience along the way.

In 2013, Charmaine moved to Kelowna BC with her partner in life and fun, fulfilling a long-time dream of living in the mountains, and sharing her joy and playfulness with the people there. Today, Trixie the clown is performing for festivals and family events, at birthday parties and doing singing telegrams for folks of all ages across the Okanagan and beyond.