Akram Yusupov Clown Country: Uzbekistan

1. Biography of Akram Yusupov
2. "And how do I get there?" Akram asked. "Do you have an elevator?"

Biography of Akram Yusupov

Born in a small Uzbek town near Andijan, Akram Yusupov was the ninth child in a family of a baker named Mamed Yusupov. Growing up in poverty, Akram was taken in by his uncle, while his brother became a popular tightrope walker. Together with a group of high-wire walkers, Akram traveled around the roads of Central Asia. They would set up high poles and stretch a tightrope at open-air markets, where they would perform their act. Akram was a quick learner and soon became a versatile artist, excelling in tightrope walking, acrobatics, and horse riding.

Years later, as the lead clown of the Uzbek circus, Yusupov did not lose the skills he acquired in his youth. His character was reminiscent of the legendary Nasreddin Hodja - a quick-witted joker and a beloved guest at any celebration. He appeared before the audience as a charming, average-sized man in boots, a brightly striped robe, harem pants, and a white shirt embroidered with national ornaments. On his head, he wore a hat called askia, which was traditionally worn by folk jesters. His round, smiling face stood out with its red lips, raised black eyebrows, and two tiny tears under his lower eyelids. His endearing smile was so genuine and heartfelt that the audience couldn't help but smile along with him. Akram had a knack for expressing his opinions in an Eastern leisurely manner and energetically engaging in the action on the stage. However, every statement he made was always accompanied by an interesting judgment, a witty joke, or a sharp remark. And it did not always sound amicable - the artist mastered irony, sarcasm, and even satire, which could be detected in some of his acts.

One notable characteristic was his accent. In the past, Russian clowns intentionally distorted the language, believing it to be funnier and imitating foreign clowns. Although Russian clowns like the Durov brothers, V. Lazarenko, and Bim-Bom brought clean Russian pronunciation to the stage, the accent persisted in our circuses. Akram Yusupov was an Uzbek, and he spoke Russian with an accent in his daily life as well. On stage, his unique accent added a soft Eastern touch to his clown's speech.

One of his signature acts involved working on the tightrope alongside the talented Tashkenbaev tightrope walkers. Set on high poles with walkways, a tightrope was stretched above the arena. The orchestra played an Uzbek melody, and the Tashkenbaev group rushed into the arena, starting their tightrope act. It was an excellent act performed in a national style. But suddenly... What was happening? There was noise behind the scenes, the music stopped, and Akram burst onto the stage. They tried to hold him back - after all, the show was already underway. He stopped and looked at the audience with a bewildered expression, as if not understanding where he had ended up. It turned out he needed the chairman of the local district committee. As he was informed, the chairman was a tightrope walker and was currently somewhere up above.

"And how do I get there?" Akram asked. "Do you have an elevator?"

He said it with such genuine simplicity and confidence that he would be immediately helped, with everyone charmed by his innocence. An exchange followed, where he asked if the chairman was present and had to put a stamp on a ballot. Finally, he found the ballot paper he had forgotten where he put, performing the act with astonishing skill. Akram Yusupov was a master of comedic timing, creating suspense as he searched for the paper. He would search for about three minutes - a significant amount of stage time - but the audience did not notice. They couldn't help but laugh. Eventually, the chairman signed the ballot, but it still needed a stamp from the secretary, who happened to be on the opposite walkway. This meant Akram had to go back. He let out a deep sigh, covered by the laughter of the audience.

Now, he progressed much more confidently and quickly on the tightrope. "I'm getting used to it," he happily informed the audience. He even made a joke about himself, saying, "They say, a smart head doesn't let your feet rest!"

Akram Yusupov's performances often incorporated elements of Uzbek folklore and observations from everyday life. With the help of authors and directors, he developed new acts. He relied on his directors, such as N. Baikalov, A. Arnold, M. Mestechkin, A. Aronov, and L. Lukyanov, to guide him in creating dialogues and scenes. Akram couldn't read Russian, so he had to rehearse by listening to the text read by his directors, repeating after them.

Akram Yusupov was not like any other popular comedian. He didn't imitate them, as often happens at the beginning of a creative career. He lived a unique life and brought the sunny smile of his republic to the circus arena, which brought him great success.