John Towsen on 50 Years of Physical Comedy

The comedians paradise · Mar 8, 2026 · 1h 5m

In this episode of The Comedian’s Paradise, Marvin McCarthy interviews the "Beast of Physical comedy" himself, John Towsen, for an in-depth exploration of the mechanics of funny.John breaks down the relationship between clowning and physical comedy, moving beyond typical red-nose tropes to look at the spirit of the performer. We compare American and European styles, discuss the legendary impact of Philippe Gaulier, and examine why so few people are teaching physical comedy correctly today.Crucially for the stand-up community, John deconstructs gag structures, explaining exactly how a physical…