More than a million people from 3 months to 108 years old have experienced his brand of insanity.  See what some of them say in the quote section.

Shawn entertains a crowd of over a thousand in an impromptu street performance at the Shizouka castle in Japan

 

Born in Beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada, Shawn is now based in beautiful Calgary Canada in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.  Beautiful      Most of his time is spent traveling around the planet, performing and teaching. He has taught Improv, Mime, Creativity - even religion, English and mask making.  His performances have occurred in Opera houses in Helsinki, in Taiwanese chicken markets (where he narrowly averted the biggest typhoon in Taiwan's history), in coastal festivals of Canada and Californian Cafes.      Shawn began his career by watching "Mummenchanz", "Shields and Yarnell" and Red Skelton.  While he has attended a few workshops as a student, Shawn was basically self taught and had won scholarships and awards for his performing before he took any classes.        After a few days in University, where classes were overflowing (students had to move to other rooms to attend class and watch the teacher on video).  Shawn decided to take correspondence school and to learn by doing.        "Most of what I learned was taught to me by the audiences I performed for - or students I've taught.  Having to clearly explain what you are doing to a class of students is a great way to learn and when an audience laughs, gasps or cries, you know you are doing something right... unless they're crying when you want them to laugh."      Shawn is looking forward to developing more performances, teaching more workshops, learning to edit better and create more video and film projects.  He also hopes to finish his book one day on Physical Theatre, possibly open a school and visit the Orangutans in the wild.

First Performance: At the age of 12 Shawn performed in a church basement as a white faced mime after which he pretended to be a store mannequin in a local shop -at the coaxing of his mother - "Go ahead, they'll like it!"  He instantly drew a crowd and was kicked out of the store by security.  His mother did not come to his aid... She laughed.

Scariest Experience: A VERY large woman claimed that Shawn was possessed by demons and tried to evict the demons while he worked.  A court ordered was issued to keep her away... (she never did evict the demons).

Strangest Experience: That time when he woke up only to realize that the world was run by machines keeping people alive in a bio-liquid of some kind and his and your  memories and experiences were created by computers.  Or was that a movie???  Strange anyway.

Best Experience: While performing in the Montreal subways as a street performer, the crowd grew so large that Police were about to "detain" Shawn.  As they pulled him away, the crowd moved in and one little wide eyed 6 year ran up to Shawn and hugged him.  The police let Shawn go and the show continued.

Shawn Likes:  Nice people.  His dog Fitz. His Mother's Bavarian Apple torte.  Velcro.

Shawn Doesn't Like: The guy who stole his bike seat (ya jerk!)... and jerks who are... idiot jerks.

Beliefs: Anything is possible. (probably... except pigs flying... except the genetically engineered ones that were crossed with Canadian Geese in that horrid "Canadian flying back bacon" fiasco in the late 70's)

Heroes: Jim Henson, Einstein, Walt Disney, Fitz the wonder-dog, Pierre Trudeau, 

photo: Patty Jamieson
Shawn Kinley...
with Shawn Kinley.  Calgary International Airport has painted a mural of Shawn at the arrivals gate. (they mistakenly painted a mountain where his body should be)

Want To Contact Shawn?

e-mail him at
shawn@shawnkinley.com

Learn More about Shawn and:

Teaching
Performing
Creating
Consulting
Writing
Art
Video and Multimedia
TV/Film
Improvising
Stage
Virtual Theatre
Upcoming Book
Press
Lipstick/Fish Scales
Rocks
Fitz

CHECK OUT
FUNANDPLAY

Shawn's place to relax and play and have some fun.  Life's so much nicer when you take it less seriously.