Dr Tony Lidington (AKA Uncle Tacko!)
Dr. Lidington has been researching the topic for over 3 decades and ran the last-remaining professional seaside pierrot troupe ‘The Pierrotters’  for 27 years from 1983-2010!
He received his doctorate on the subject in 2017 and now lectures and broadcasts nationally, as well as teaching the art-form to practitioners.
Inspired by the pierrot impresario Will Catlin, who built ‘The Arcadia’ in Llandudno where Venue Cymru stands today and whose cafe now bears his name, Tony has been working with history students from Bangor University to research the history of the pierrot concert party form in Llandudno. Materials and memories have been gathered from archives, museums and local people – including descendants of Will Catlin’s own family.
The materials have been gathered together onto this website and they will also form part of a touring exhibition of panels, films and memorabilia, entitled ‘Seaside Follies’, which will visit local venues over the coming year.
There have also been a series of public talks on the subject given by Dr Lidington at Bangor University, Llandudno Historical Society and at Venue Cymru.
