A trio of Argentinian clowns is coming to town as part of the Family Fiesta series, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
A spokesman said interactive circus group La Pipetua would perform their off-beat show Opereta Prima for Hong Kong audiences in April.
'They are not traditional clowns and can incorporate almost any non-traditional objects as sources of their comic inspirations together with live musical accompaniment.'
In the days before it was considered cruel to make animals perform tricks in a circus ring, the clown, with his painted white face, red nose and oversized feet, played the important role of keeping audiences amused between acts.
La Pipetua (which comes from the Argentinian expression 'A La Pipetua', meaning amazement, joy and surprise) combines circus techniques, theatrics and comedy with objects not normally used by clowns.
'Everything is extremely important in the performance's creation and global conception,' said a group spokesman.
French troupe Cirque de Soleil can largely be credited for revolutionising the circus into a contemporary production, in which performers play out a story drawing on characterisation, theatre, costumes and music. An entire band of artists have since spawned their own modern-day versions of circus acts.