2026 Workshops: Principles of Eccentric Performance
Hailed as one of the greatest clowns of all time, Avner Eisenberg is often a featured performer in comedy, magic, clown, and theater festivals. He studied with Jacques Lecoq from 1971 to 1974. He has developed a unique physical approach to comedy and acting that he teaches in workshops around the world.
He has been described by New York Magazine as a “clown for the thinking man.” His show Avner the Eccentric was a hit of the 1984–85 Broadway season. He appeared again on Broadway in Ghetto and The Comedy of Errors. Avner is widely known for his endearing portrayal of Al Juhara, the Jewel, in the Michael Douglas film The Jewel of the Nile.
Avner continues to perform and teach internationally, with recent shows and workshops in Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, and Spain. Avner has won awards at the Edinburgh Festival, the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival, and the Festival Internacional de Pallassos in Barcelona, the “Snow Star” for comedy in Switzerland, and the “Lachmesse” award in Germany.