Russel Erwood

Russel Erwood, known professionally as Erwyd and Erwyd le Fol and formerly as the escape artist Roslyn Walker, is a jester, magician and circus performer based in Conwy, North Wales. In 2015 he was appointed the official resident jester of Conwy, reviving a position reported as having been vacant since 1295. Earlier in his career, Erwood performed professionally as an escapologist and stunt performer under the name Roslyn Walker.

Early career

Erwood previously performed under the stage name Roslyn Walker, specialising in escapology and stunt performance.

In 2009 he appeared in the music video for Fanfarlo’s single ‘‘The Walls Are Coming Down’’, performing a suspended straitjacket escape. The video was created by artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, whose project archive credits Walker as the escape artist.

Walker continued to work in magic, escapology and circus-related entertainment during the early 2010s. A 2014 interview about professional escapology discussed his work as an escape artist and his background in circus performance.

By 2015, contemporary news reports were describing Erwood as a professional magician and circus performer.

Jester of Conwy

Erwood moved to Conwy in 2014. According to ‘‘The Washington Post’’, local businesses subsequently began referring to him as the town’s jester and the Conwy Chamber of Trade approached him about formally reviving the position.

On 2 August 2015, Erwood was formally appointed Conwy’s resident jester in a public ceremony and took the professional name ‘’‘Erwyd le Fol’’’.

The role had been associated with Tom le Fol, a jester connected with Edward I of England during the siege of Conwy in 1294–95, and was reported as having been vacant for more than 700 years.

As part of the appointment ceremony, Erwood was required to complete a series of performance tests, including juggling knives while blindfolded, making a coin disappear and balancing a sword on his chin. The final decision was presented to the assembled public before he was formally installed in the role.

Following his appointment, his duties included street performances, appearances at civic and historical events and entertaining visitors to the town. In an interview with WNYC’s ‘‘The Takeaway’’, Erwood discussed his intention to revive the jester as a contemporary form of public entertainer.

Erwood’s appointment also received television coverage in the United Kingdom. Shortly afterwards he appeared on ITV’s ‘’This Morning’’, which identified him as Russel Erwood, also known as Erwyd le Fol, and discussed his work as Conwy’s jester.

The appointment developed into a continuing role rather than a temporary event. In 2025, ‘‘BBC Countryfile’’ described Erwyd le Fol as Conwy’s “official resident court jester” in its guide to Conwy Castle.

Work in Conwy

Alongside his work as a performer, Erwood has been involved in Conwy’s business and events community. In 2023, ‘‘Nation.Cymru’’ identified Russel Erwood as chairman of the Conwy Chamber of Trade in coverage of the town’s annual Pirate Festival.

Circus work

Erwood returned to touring circus performance under the name Erwyd with Peregrine Circus, a North Wales-based travelling circus.

In 2025, ‘‘MagicWeek’’ reported that he was appearing throughout the company’s North Wales summer tour, performing magic in the big top.

Peregrine Circus subsequently billed him as Russel “Erwyd” Erwood in connection with its touring productions.

External links

• Official website