VITA
A glimpse behind the scenes
Timo – Momo – Lesniewski
Early on, Timo’s family noticed his special passion. As a five-year-old, he already heard his father say, „You look like a clown.“ Many years later, he turned this passion into his profession. At the age of 10, Timo transformed his garden into a circus. The terrace became the stage, bed sheets hung between the trees as curtains, and he placed rows of chairs on the grass. That’s where he gained his first performance experiences in front of family, friends, and neighbors.
Timo taught himself juggling and magic from an early age. However, he continually noticed that he had a particular knack for making people laugh. Later, he led after-school clubs at his school on topics like juggling, magic, and clowning. Timo began to plan his first shows and performances with his students. The ball started rolling quickly. Initially, he amazed children and educators in kindergartens with his magic tricks, and soon after, he found himself on the first small and large stages of various festivals.
The „funny“ side of things never let go of him. Timo always knew that a clown is much more than what many people see in it. Bright makeup and carnival costumes have very little to do with „true“ clowning. Coming from a non-artist family, he never considered becoming an artist and initially pursued a path in social pedagogy. But fate took its course. By chance, he found a flyer for a dance and theater school (TuT) in Hanover. The slogan „Make your dream come true“ awakened his artistic heart. He began the state-recognized training for clown and comedian performer. Two years later, he graduated with honors, one of the few to do so.
He took additional lessons and honed his craft in various masterclass workshops, including with Peter Shub, Edouard Neumann (KGB Clowns), Laura Fernandez, and Detlef Winterberg. To this day, he continues to work closely with fellow artists and directors on his stage persona and acts.
In 2018, the circus world discovered him through former trapeze artist and winner of the bronze clown at the Monte Carlo Circus Festival, Rodrigue Funke!
Career
Bronze at "Grand Prix der Artisten"
Monsieur Momo was awarded „Bronze“ (3rd place) at the 6th Grand Prix of Artists in Hanover. The winners were chosen by the 30,000 spectators.
Christmas Circus Hanover
Monsieur Momo is the face of the show at the 6th Grand Prix of Artists in Hanover! The shows will take place from December 20, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
During 29 performances, visitors will have the chance to choose their favorite, who will ultimately win the coveted „Grand Prix“ of Hanover.
Over 60 million clicks!
Now Momo is conquering the internet! With over 200,000 subscribers and more than 60 million clicks on Instagram, his fanbase has grown worldwide. Requests for performances are pouring in from all over the globe: Norway, England, France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Morocco, India, China, and more…
Momo’s humor connects with all cultures – Magic!
10 Years of Monsieur Momo
A reason to celebrate! In August 2013, Monsieur Momo began his journey as a freelance clown and comedian, and now, in August 2023, we are celebrating 10 years of „Monsieur Momo.“
School Clown
In addition to the stage and circus ring, Momo has been regularly performing as a school clown at two elementary schools since February 2023. What does he do there? Find out more in this podcast interview:: click
Roncalli Prix Honorary Award
On September 19, 2022, the Clinic Clown Association Hanover received the „Roncalli Prix“ during the 20th anniversary celebration at the GOP Varieté Theater! This prestigious award is given out very rarely. Timo has also been a part of this association for nine years.
Instructor at the TuT School for Dance, Clown, and Theater
In November 2021, Timo was a lecturer for the first time at the TuT – Schule für Tanz, Clown und Theater
Berliner Wintergarten Varieté
From September to June 2021, Timo performed as Monsieur Momo in the famous Berliner Wintergarten Varieté. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was prematurely ended in November 2020 after 40 performances.
Circus Roncalli Drive-In Show!
In June and July 2020, Timo was part of the cast of the Circus Roncalli Drive-In Show! The performances took place at drive-in cinemas in Hanover and Mannheim.
Further awards won
In 2020, Timo was one of two German acts in the 1st Online Circus Festival, ranked among the TOP 100. In June 2020, he performed as Monsieur Momo at the 3rd Festival Virtual de Circo and won the „Special Prize for Comedy“ (awarded by Dorothee Köß / Shubcraft)
Face of the Aachen Christmas Circus
From December 2019 to January 2020, he was the face of the Aachener Weihnachtscircus
Euskirchen Cabaret Award
In October 2019, he won the Euskirchener Cabaret Award
Jury of the Harz Show Crystal
In 2018, Timo was part of the jury for the Harz Show Crystal, worked as a clown for Roncalli Event GmbH, and from December 2018 to January 2019, he was the red thread of the Regensburg Christmas Circus.
Many awards and honors
In 2017, Timo won the Golden Osen, the Lüdenscheider Lachsack, and the Harz Show Crystal. He was also a finalist at „Ostfriesland Lacht“ and the Hamburg talent show „Wie krass bist du denn“! In Stockstadt am Main, he achieved second place at the „Stockstädter Römerhelm„.
Roncalli Apollo Varieté
In September 2017, he secured second place in a talent show at the famous Roncalli Apollo Varieté.
Theater at Hornwerk in Nienburg
In 2017, he performed his own variety show for the first time at the large theater at Hornwerk in Nienburg in front of over 500 spectators! In 2018 and 2019, two very successful continuations followed! The variety show was paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bochum Cabaret Award
In 2015, Timo won the Bochum Cabaret Award as „Monsieur Momo“.
Clinic-Clowns-Hannover e.V.
Since November 2014, he has been a clown at the Clinic-Clowns-Hannover e.V.
GOP Varieté Theater Hanover
In March 2014, Timo performed at the renowned GOP Varieté Theater Hannover in the ninth Hannover Mix Show! Many more performances at the GOP Hannover and Bremen followed.
„Momos Varieté“ in Nienburg
In November 2013, his own variety show „Momo’s Varieté“ was performed for the first time in front of a sold-out audience in Nienburg an der Weser. After the great success, a successful continuation took place in November 2014.
"ClownS-Winkel"
In March 2013, Timo, along with fellow artists from across Germany, developed and presented their first evening program, „ClownS-Winkel“, in Hanover.
"BuskerBus" in Poland
In 2012, Timo performed for ten days at the „BuskerBus“ artist festival in Poland as the only German clown.
