“Earthy + Quirky”

Hi, I’m Pan Ini - clown, songwriter, holistic practitioner and workshop facilitator. I am drawn to the role of the artist-as-rebel + believe in the power of courage, contrast and connection to stir things up in meaningful ways.

My art often uses humour, paradox, humility and participation to poke at societal norms and invite new possibilities. I see culture itself as an art form—a narrative we’re all co-creating, with the outcome being the feeling it generates.

As a facilitator, I bring openness and compassion. I encourage co-intentional transformation from expectation; bringing silliness, curiosity, presence and joy to the centre. My workshops weave together nature connection, mindfulness, play, discussion and creativity —inviting people to reconnect with vulnerability, receptivity to new perspectives and joy while also making space for the weird, messy, and beautiful parts of being human.

Why “Pan Ini?” - Pan was a nickname I grew up with as a child. Later, finding out Pan was a Greek God of fields, forests and mischief, I took the name on permanently for a while in my mid twenties. I’d been living on rewilding projects, teaching bushcraft and travelling nomadically and I felt the name fit. Pan Ini has my real name in the middle “ani”/”Annie” and brings a playful ring to it. Pan Ini is also a reminder that food is love and that food and art are central parts of our culture and should be made accessible and nutritional, feeding our hearts and souls.

I’ve had a few adventures off the usual map, living in different countries and cultures but also episodes of mania and psychosis—times when for me, reality cracked open into something both ridiculous and profound. In those states, I glimpsed the absurdity of our systems, met the mess of not looking after ourselves but also felt a deep sense of interconnectedness with myself and my relationship to the earth, bravery and love. These experiences have shaped my belief that play, perspective, story and presence aren’t just light-hearted—they’re radical tools for reimagining the world and our place within it. They continue to guide me in grounding and centering myself.

I’m always seeking balance, truth and radical acceptance through honouring experience and transformation. My journey through mental ill health and bipolar diagnosis alongside studies and research into applied theatre, clowning, play, nature connection, authentic relating and empowerment offers a bespoke perspective on how I approach both art and facilitation.

The world is mad, it’s not that mad to be mad in a mad world.

If we can be gentle and accepting of the darkness, we can learn to grow and find beauty amongst it.

How much darkness there is, is how much light there is.

Training and qualifications:

BA (hons) Drama, Applied Theatre & Education; Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Authentic Relating Level 1

Mental Health First Aid Level 2

Clown training with: Jon Davison, Zuma Puma, Barnaby King, Ines Sampaio

Reiki Level 2, Indian Head Massage, Zenthai Shiatsu Level 1

Pan Ini’s key reading list:

All About Love, bell hooks

Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer

Fear Essential Wisdom for getting through the storm, Thich Nhat Hanh

Man’s Search for Meaning, Victor Frankl

Hope in the Dark, Rebecca Solnit

Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire

Daring Greatly, Brene Brown

On Connection, Kae Tempest

Finite and Infinite Games, James P. Carse

Walking on the Wind, Michael Garrett

Blueprint for Revolution, Srdja Popovic + Matthew Miller

Relevant experience:

Culture immersion (working & volunteering): Zimbabwe, Russia, Turkey, Austria, Calais (Northern France)

Nature connection: Rewilding + permaculture projects, bushcraft & forest school facilitating, farm work, solo walked the South West Coastal Path

Other: Freelance puppeteer, Creative facilitator for kids in the care system, AmDram facilitator, Environmental Officer