The near-death experience that created a clown

Becoming a clown was not necessarily plan A for Gaby Muñoz. When she was a teenager in Mexico and almost died after a routine surgery, Gaby discovered that resilience and humour could get her through just about any obstacle, however terrifying or absurd. Drawing on her memories of childhood playtime with her father, she created Chula the Clown, a silent, expressive clown tackling themes from love, loneliness and body image. For more than 15 years, Gaby - as Chula - has performed across the globe. Outlook's Clayton Conn went to meet her in Mexico City at her show, Julietta.

In 1986 American teenager, Jeff Henigson, was diagnosed with brain cancer and given two years to live. He had just one wish: to travel to the Soviet Union, meet the country's leader Mikhail Gorbachev and attempt to broker a nuclear peace deal. (A longer version of this interview was first broadcast in 2019)

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Maryam Maruf

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(Picture: Gaby Muñoz on stage as Chula the Clown. Her face is painted white, with one of her eyebrows painted upwards, her lips are puckered into a bright red heart, and her hair is backcombed into a dark frizzly ball. In this show, inspired by Gaby's great aunt, she's dressed like a cliché of an elderly lady of a certain generation. She wears a blue and white floral house coat over an orange and purple floral shirt, wearing blue slippers over yellow and black stripy socks. She sits by a table, holding up a phone receiver. Credit: Irene Barajas)