What is The Busking Lab?

A 4-day intensive workshop

When

Monday 2nd – Friday 6th of March, 2026

Arriving Monday at 5pm, Finishing Friday at 6pm

(exact times may vary) 

Where

Strengthen your street performance technique and master the craft of busking! Over four days, you’ll gain a toolkit of skills, frameworks, and principles to create and perform a circle show and confidently pass the hat.

What you’ll learn:

~ How to build an edge (your front row)

~ Crafting a routine that captivates

~ Holding and growing a crowd

~ Hatting with confidence (earning from your audience) 

~ Traditional techniques, tips, and tricks from seasoned performers

Facilitators

The Busking Lab will be taught / led by:

Darryl J Carrington

Darryl is a juggling clown with over 20 years of performing experience, trained at Circomedia and now creating and touring comedy‑juggling shows worldwide. His work blends physical comedy, skilled juggling, and playful audience connection. A seasoned busker, he shares practical insight into crafting routines, building rapport and performing in diverse settings.

Paschale Straiton (also at Red Herring)

Paschale has been creating street shows for 25 years, wearing various hats as a performer, writer and director. She founded Red Herring Productions and is a regular collaborator with a range of companies including Avanti Display, Ramshacklicious and Walk the Plank. She provides expertise in audience participation, show dynamics, clowning and visual storytelling. 

Rob Sim What A Palaver

Rob brings 45 years of performance experience, from double‑act work to a decade as a solo outdoor artist. Rooted in comedy and circus, he brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insight for show creation, crowd‑building, audience engagement, along with fire breathing, bed of nails, juggling, and stilts. His teaching centres on playful, creative exploration.