ABOUT
Established in 1985, Fools Theatre Company has delivered quality theatre productions to the delight of vast audiences across Australia and overseas. Whether performing in schools, major festivals, private functions, or wandering the streets, the troupe continues to endear and inspire the imagination with their unique blend of clown, mask, puppetry, magic and music.

Founding artistic director David Erskine is a performance artist, theatre director and arts educator. He has a Bachelor of Education and has taught drama, film and music at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
Beyond his specialised performance skills in clown, mask, puppetry and magic, he is also an accomplished maker of masks and puppets.
In the early 1980s he toured with Adelaide clown troupe “Magick Circus” – first Australia, then Europe. Based in Amsterdam, they linked with a local circus troupe and toured Holland. Scotland was their next stop, with performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
On returning to Australia David established his own troupe "Fools Theatre Company". Collaborating with local theatre creatives, he built up a repertoire of touring shows and wandering characters. Important during this period was the inspired artistry of Christine Backhouse.
In 2003 David returned to Europe. Based in Berlin, he spent the following 12 years working on a variety of theatre and arts education programs.

Now back in Australia, and with theatre still coursing through his veins, David continues to explore the art of storytelling through words, theatre and music.

   A few Performance Highlights:
* Adelaide Festival of Arts – “The Inspector General”
* Adelaide Fringe Festival – many performances
* Eleventh Hour Youth Theatre – artistic director
* Sheridan Theatre – actor, director
* Patch Theatre - Merlyn "Lost In Time" "Spellbound"
* Araluen Arts Centre
* Alice Springs Gaol
* Edinburgh Fringe
* Melk Weg Amsterdam Festival
* Hong Kong International Arts Festival
* Wellington Festival, NZ
* Georgetown Penang, Malaysia – Sister City arts delegation
* Christchurch New Zealand – Sister City arts delegation
* Co-host ABC TV children show Couch Potato
* Platypus Bilingual Theatre, Berlin
* Theatre arts tutor, John F Kennedy International School, Berlin
* Anywhere Festival, Brisbane. Sunshine Coast, Noosa

 Masterclass Participant:
* Philippe Genty (mask, puppetry)
* Nigel Jamieson (mask)
* Mario Gonzales (Commedia dell’ Arte, Paris)
* Jacques Lecoq (physical theatre, France)

 Other:
* Adelaide Fringe Awards Judge for 7 years
* Noosa International Film Festival – Awards Judge since 2016
* Author – suspense-thriller novel “The Provenance Diary”
* Music Producer / Sound Designer