A Giraffe. In a G-String. With a job to do. A joyful silent clown show packed with fun audience interaction, lots of lovely chaos and, yes, a very special Portuguese custard tart! To understand this yellow giraffe more, Fringe Review’s Dr.Pants interviewed Francisco de Nata, otherwise known as Keaton Guimarães-Tolley, on his acclaimed silent clown show. The show is on at 9.00PM on Sunday 25th October and 6.00PM on Sunday 1st November in the Headgate Theatre, Rehearsal Room, and runs at 60 minutes.
NAP: Hello Keaton! Thanks for speaking with us today. Giraffes? G-strings? Custard Tarts? Tell us more about what we can expect in the show.
KGT: A Giraffe painting the ceiling for his Portuguese Avó (grandma). Francisco de Nata invites you on a playful journey where nonsense, vulnerability and wonder take centre stage. But things aren’t quite as straightforward as you’d (maybe) imagine. Over 60 minutes, this Giraffe’s world soon unravels into beautiful chaos. As the clock ticks and the paint dries, a tender and ridiculous story unfolds about Francisco’s love for his grandma and the world around him. But will it all come together before time runs out? Come and find out!
It’s a silent show. It features a real Giraffe (kind of). And it may or may not contain some very special Portuguese custard tarts… what’s not to love? Something for your ears, your eyes and also your tummy.
NAP: It can be difficult sometimes to convince people to come to shows like yours. Silent. Giraffes. Clowning. How would you convince me to see your play if I was hesitant?
KGT: I’d ask if you fancied spending an hour in a room with a Giraffe, laughing and feeling happy without a single word being spoken? If yes, we’d love to have you. If no, we’d love to have you. And if it’s a maybe, why not stay for 30 minutes and see if you fancy staying for the other 30?
Plus, how many of your friends can say they spent an hour locked in a small room with a Giraffe this October, and mean it?
NAP: Well I have some weird friends, haha. What are you hopeful audiences will leave your show feeling or doing?
KGT: I hope audiences leave feeling a lot of joy, a lot of love for the people they care about, and maybe remembering what it felt like to laugh when they were a kid (like, really laugh). In terms of doing, as the show centres around Francisco’s love for his Avó (grandma), maybe for the audience to give their grandma, or whoever plays that role in their life, a call or a message afterwards.
NAP: Shows as strange and wonderful as yours bare the same question, as a performer and theatre-maker, who are a few of your inspirations at the moment for the work you do?
KGT: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Julia Masli, Pingu, DeliaDelia, Ella the Great, House of Life, In Bed with my Brother, Tiago Rodrigues and Ezra Collective.
NAP: You’ve had lots of fun over the past two years at Edinburgh Fringe with Underbelly. What have been some of your highlights?
KGT: Herding traffic (and pedestrians) across the crossroads of Bristo Square has to be my favourite thing to do in Edinburgh when I’m not doing the show. I have had so much fun in that costume, trotting about with the public each summer, especially with my lollipop stick (it’s been the best pre-show ritual). This year we also hosted a series of late-night DJ parties with Trev from House of Life across the city with Underbelly, which was very special. A few other highlights include a Karaoke appearance at Shedinburgh, a Bronze Medal at the Clown Olympics 2026, and lots (and lots) of Panquakes post-show. IYKYK.
NAP: The show has had a lot of praise while you’ve been up at Edinburgh. What have you found audiences say about the show after seeing it?
KGT: Some of my favourite audience quotes include “my cheeks hurt – my face cheeks, not his bum cheeks!”, calling the Giraffe “joy on legs!” and describing the show as “the genius of Mr Bean with the Chaplinesque innocence of a silent comedy classic.” Some other faves are “a masterclass in silliness, letting yourself feel that childlike joy as an adult”, “a yummy revolution”, and perhaps the one I love the most: “You need this goofy Giraffe in your life to rediscover your inner child and let go of being cool!” We’re excited to hear what Colchester makes of the Giraffe this Autumn!
NAP: Do I even ask what your favourite colour is?
KGT: Yellow.
Francisco De Nata is performing on at 9.00PM on Sunday 25th October and 6.00PM on Sunday 1st November in the Headgate Theatre, Rehearsal Room, and runs at 60 minutes. While you’re here, read about our coverage of others shows at this year’s Colchester Fringe including about a one man King Arthur, Shakespeare’s least known play, or FringeReview’s resident interviewer Dr.Pant’s (a play in a) DARK ROOM.
