... Capital clowns BOURNEMOUTH becomes Bri tain's seaside slapstick capital for the first time next August when more than 100 clowns descend on the Lower Gardens for three days of madcap merriment and mirth. Continental comics include Double Dutch from Holland and Parisian pup peteers the Arnos Brothers. Organisers are Patricia and Adam Sanger of the famous circus family and their brother Ross is ...

... By JEREMY JEHU ONE OF THE most controversial forms of live entertainment, stage hypnotism, is due to return to the West End next month for the first time in over 30 years. Westminster Council has relented and lifted a licensing ban enforced first by the old LCC and then the GLC since the 1952 Hypnotism Act was passed. In an experimental scheme, it has allowed well-known stage hypnotist Andrew ...

... AFTER MONTHS confined to a hospital, musician Jack Forsyth, who was tragically struck by multiple sclerosis just as his new youth theatre won Royal support, has vowed he will conduct again. Jack, who is now partially paralysed and in a wheel chair, says even if he has to use a specially adapted machine to help him he intends to conduct again as soon as possible. Last year Jack gave up his ...

... Slap for Crisco and stick for the staff By JEREMY JEHU COMEDY magician Crisco's warm up routine for a Christmas Chas 'n' Dave show turned out to be about as funny as a smack in the face when a theatre employee decided to warm him up with a no-holds-barred brawl in the foyer. Security stall bneied to throw Cnsco out of the theatre during a pre- show comedy routine ended up having to rescue him ...

... New venue looks like a palace THE FORMER Bishop of Lon don's Palace has been transformed by Labour controlled Hammers mith and Fulham Council into a multi-purpose community arts centre. The historic building, which passed over to council ownership in the early seventies, narrowly escaped being sold for office space. But last year the new Labour Council decided to keep Fulham Palace open for ...

... Major theatre out of Public Eye By BRIAN ATTWOOD TOP NORTHERN promoters Pentagon Productions is to withdraw from major theatre shows after a four month battle for work with former managing director Nick Thomas. Thomas quit the firm which he helped to set up claiming that perso nality clashes with other board mem bers had made his position intolerable. His new company Nick Thomas Enterprises ...

... Two, two tidy By ELIZABETH SWIFT TWO UP AND coming light entertainment duos, who both claim to be neat and tidy, look like they are heading for an untidy muddle-unless there is a big sort out. Until last week both comedy duos were working in blissful ignorance of each other and were both convinced that their names were unique. Neate'nTidy were operating a suc cessful club circuit in the North ...

... Vaughan's anger over sacking case rumours ENTERTAINER Frankie Vaughan is said to be infuri- L ated by rumours that he in- I tends to sue the producers of I the hit musical 42nd Street for I sacking him. I Vaughan was rushed to hospital I with an almost fatal attack of I peritonitis and was replaced by his I American understudy Kenneth I Nelson. I After his release from Barnet I General ...

... Valentine wine DOROTHY SQUIRES is to release her first single record for several years on St Valentine's Day, February 14. Entitled The Wine is There, it is a typical Squires ballad with a huge orchestral accompaniment, and is on the Esban label, released through Pinnacle. ...

... Top comic tells black girls to go back where they came from Midland Comic of the Year in racism row By NATASHA FIELDING A BLACK Country comedian has been accused of racism after a wisecrack he made during his cabaret spot at Westley Court Hotel upset two black girls. Tony Palmer, voted Midland Comic of the Year for the third year running, made remarks to a party of pre-Christ- mas revellers on ...

... Blackpool's calling you SINGER FRANK Ifield is to head line the season at Blackpool's mighty Sandcastle next summer. The sometimes yodeller and new Radio 2 signing will have his own show six nights a week from July 6 in the venue's large cabaret room. It's the first time in some years that the performer, who last year celebrated his showbusiness Silver Jubilee, has performed a full summer ...

... Band festival TWENTY BANDS from the North of England will be meeting in Southport next Sunday, January 18 for the northern section of the third national concert band fes tival. The winning bands from the schools, stage and open concert groups will go forward to the national final in Croydon in March. The public is promised a wide variety of big band music, with competitors coining from as far ...