← All events
comedy · Saturday 18 July 2026 · Various 
Clown Workshop with Fraser Hooper
At Regional Cultural Centre · Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
At Regional Cultural Centre · Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
A clown workshop might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a July weekend in Donegal, but this one is worth making a detour for. Fraser Hooper is an internationally award-winning comedian and clown teacher who has run workshops across Europe, and this all-ages session at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny is part of Earagail Arts Festival 2026. It suits curious adults, teenagers, and children from around five upwards - the kind of event that works equally well as a family outing or a solo adventure for anyone drawn to physical comedy and performance.
Fraser’s workshops focus on rhythm, play, and physical comedy - the nuts and bolts of what makes clowning actually funny. The format is hands-on from the start: participants work through improvisation exercises and physical games that build responsive listening and confidence in front of others. Fraser teaches participants how to “break the rhythm” - recognising that the unexpected moment, the failure turned comic, is often where the best material lives. His teaching approach creates a deliberately low-pressure room: playful strategies that embrace failure as much as success, with feedback rather than criticism. Very few props are needed; the work is mostly about the body and timing. The related show “Funny Business starring Fraser Hooper” runs on the same day and the following Sunday at 3pm, so you could pair the workshop with the performance for a full day of it.
Letterkenny is the largest town in Donegal and the main hub for north-west Ireland. It sits at the head of Lough Swilly, roughly 35 km north of Donegal town and about 30 km from Derry/Londonderry. By road, the N13/N14 brings you in from the south and east; from Belfast or Derry the A2 and N13 are the direct route. Bus Eireann serves Letterkenny from Dublin (via Monaghan and Omagh), Sligo, and Galway; Feda O’Donnell coaches run from Galway and Donegal town. The Regional Cultural Centre is situated behind An Grianán Theatre on the Port Road - town-centre parking is available nearby, and Port Road itself has on-street spaces.
Letterkenny has a long main street, a strong food scene, and Glenveagh National Park is less than an hour’s drive away. There is more to see in Letterkenny and across Co. Donegal.
Heading to Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny? Donegal has plenty more to see. Read the Letterkenny area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.