Theatre / extraordinary bodies
Bristol Old Vic welcomes Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror
Extraordinary Bodies is a revolutionary ensemble of disabled and non-disabled performers, led by co-founders and artistic directors Billy Alwen and Claire Hodgson, who met while working on the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Their mission is to widen access to circus training and performance, breaking down barriers for D/deaf and disabled people through an inclusive approach to the artform based around five key tenets:
- Be open to learning
- Extend the ‘rebellious heart’ of circus
- Be flexible and adaptable
- Embed diversity and inclusion in every strand of work
- Extend practice through partnerships
Together they have produced and toured numerous shows including Weighting, What Am I Worth?, Human, Delicate, and a collaboration with The British Paraorchestra, led by Charles Hazlewood, in 2016.
is needed now More than ever
Extraordinary Bodies in rehearsal for Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror – photo: Paul Blakemore
They are currently in rehearsal for Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror, a brand new cross-genre ‘circus theatre musical’ about love, courage and resistance in early 1930s Germany, pitching Waldo and his travelling circus of outcasts, acrobats and aerialists against a darkening context of growing oppression, violence, racial intolerance and anti-semitism.
The production comes to Bristol Old Vic on March 11 for a three week run before touring through until the summer.
Written by Hattie Naylor and Jamie Beddard, based on an original idea by Naylor, Waldo’s Circus stars Abbie Purvis as Krista, the star of the circus, Garry Robson as Waldo the ringmaster, and Dominic Owen as the handsome but gullible Nazi party member, Gerhard.
Cast for Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror – photo: Extraordinary Bodies/Bristol Old Vic
The show also reunites the company with Hazlewood, who has composed an original score.
“For Waldo’s Circus where Hattie and Jamie have written very beautiful, lyrical prose,” recalls Hazlewood, “I thought – how about if we created a kind of punk circus that also borrowed from new romanticism, techno and renaissance?
“There’s no incongruity about having a punk aria followed by a piece of renaissance counterpoint – and that’s what the show will be. Extraordinary Bodies is a phenomenally skilled, and ultimately, very, very open-hearted, adventurous bunch of individuals.”
Naylor’s inspiration for writing the story originated in watching the 1932 film Freaks, directed by Todd Browning, and subsequently researching real-life instances of performers in the so-called ‘freak shows’ of the era.
She learned that many were able to use the circus networks to smuggle them out of Germany, finding sanctuary in France and beyond.
“Our dramatic exploration of this moving and brave story reminds us to be always vigilant,” says co-writer Beddard, “and with the energy, skills and creativity of our artists, we hope to create a spectacular, meaningful and vital piece.”
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Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror (age recommendation 12+) is at Bristol Old Vic from March 11-April 1. All performances are chilled, signed, captioned and audio described. For more information and tickets, visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk.
Main photo: Paul Blakemore
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