Yellowknife (Mar 31/06) - “I have nothing to say, but I say it really well.”

Speaking from a hotel room in Winnipeg, Flyin’ Bob (aka Bob Palmer), tried to describe what “Articulate Nonsense” - the name of the performance he will bring to the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre April 7 - is all about.

Flyin’ Bob (aka Bob Palmer) will bring juggling, high-wire work and laughter to the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre on April 7. - photo courtesy of Bob Palmer -

“The point is, there is absolutely no point to what I am doing,” he said of his act, which includes juggling, high-wire work and a lot of talking.

“I like to say, ‘I don’t create, I recognize,’” he said. “That’s the wonderful freedom of (my act). You can use anything you think is presentable.”

Bob has been a performer for nearly 20 years, entertaining innocent bystanders in theatres, schools and on streets around the world. One bit of praise on his website calls his act “a well-thought-out balance between comedy, drama, poetry and education.”

“I like to explain what I’m doing and why I’m doing it,” he said. “My feeling is, you can do all of these skills.”

“Our favourite line is, ‘kids, try this at home.’”

In Bob’s bio, there is an impressive list of achievements.

He has walked on a high-wire between the World Trade Centre buildings, performed for Palestinian refugees in Jerusalem and appeared at an international tightrope walking festival in South Korea.

But at the very top of this list is Bob’s work with youth.

“Those were just one-time events,” he said, referring to his flashier achievements.

“This has been going on for 12-13 years. I hope it goes on indefinitely.”

He said some people have been coming to the workshops every year for 10 years, first as participants, and now as mentors and group leaders.

“We don’t save every kid,” he said, “but a lot of them have turned into spectacular human beings.”