My hobby at 10 was to dress as a grandma, walk down the street and say “Bonjour” to the people I’d meet.

Hi, I’m Pan Ini—a multi-disciplinary artist, clown, storyteller, songwriter and workshop facilitator. I believe in the power of courage, conversation, contrast and community to stir things up in meaningful ways.

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

As a facilitator, I bring openness and care while encouraging shared responsibility for growth and learning. My workshops weave together mindfulness, play, creativity, and conversation—inviting people to reconnect with their creativity, vulnerability, and joy, while also making space for the weird, messy, and beautiful parts of being human.

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 and a deep sense of interconnectedness. 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 liberation offers a bespoke perspective on how I approach both art and facilitation in a holistic manner.

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

Through creativity, connection, and courage, we can embrace and transform the mess.

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

Training and qualifications:

BA (hons) 2:1 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

Relevant experience:

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

Nature connection: Rewilding + permaculture projects, bushcraft & forest school facilitating, walked SW Coastal Path

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