What does 'Claquer' mean and where does it come from?

The Claquer were an organized body of people who, either for hire or from other motives, banded together to applaud or deride a performance and thereby attempt to influence the audience, especially during competitions. As an institution they date back to ancient Greece. Under the Roman Empire claques were common in the law courts as well as the theatre. In the 16th-century a French poet, Jean Daurat would buy up a number of tickets for a performance of one of his plays and distributed them gratuitously to those who promised publicly to express their approval. In the 18th century they created an organisation of claque, and opened an office in Paris for the supply of Claquers. It became a regular institution. The manager of a theatre sends an order for any number of Claquers. They would usually work under an elected leader a chef de claque, whose duty was to start the demonstration of approval or disapproval, depending what they were hired to do. The Claquers had different roles - there were the Commissaires, those who learnt pieces of the play by heart, and drew the attention to the audience to its good points between the acts; the Rieurs who laughed loudly at the jokes; The Pleureurs, generally women, who feigned tears, The Ticklers who kept the audience in a good humour and the Bisseurs who simply clapped their hands and cried "bis, bis" to secure encores.

Claque Theatre and the Claquer.

Claque Theatre is a reinvention - by our definition they are 'social actors' a member of the community who participates in the play. The audience and the actors of the same community; in a Claque performance the audience and actors mix in a shared promenade space. The stories and ideas that make up the play are pulled from the community and the lines between public and player are often blurred with actors in the auditorium and the audience caught up inside the action. The Claquer is a Community or 'Social Actor' who becomes the community's voice - it may be a voice of celebration, change or protest. The plays give individuals an opportunity to explore the history and contemporary issues of the place in which they live and work. Claque is inclusive, as a true community is inclusive.

Become a Claquer

Become a member of the Claquers and you get put on our mailing list and will receive early information and discounts on our plays, workshops and events. There are also various ways you can participate in some of our projects. Like the old school of Claquers we give the different roles a name, this list is expected to expand, change or develop and the notion of Claque evolve. For further information about Claque membership, the various range and levels of involvement and an application write to us or e-mail us.

Claque Theatre. 12 Apsley Street, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells. TN4 8NU
Email jon.oram@virgin.net