Theatre / Bristol
Preview: Circus City 2017
October sees the return of Circus City, the biennial festival of circus, which began as Bristol Circus Festival in 2013 and made a successful return bearing its new name in 2015.
The festival is part of a larger project, Bristol Circus City, steered by the Bristol Circus Forum – a collection of organisations in Bristol who work with circus arts and champion its development in the city and beyond. Working to develop circus in Bristol, BCF aims to strengthen Bristol’s circus scene and to realise the Mayoral ambition for Bristol to become a City of Circus.
This year’s Circus City will see acts including Ockham’s Razor and Bristol-based Beyond the Ridiculous, Lavrak, The Invisible Circus and PanGottic, performing at venues including Bristol Old Vic, Circomedia, The Wardrobe Theatre, Trinity, The Island, The Loco Klub.
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Bristol’s PanGottic aka Matt Pang, one of this year;s Circus City headliners. Pic: Joe Clarke
So, does this this year’s Circus City differ – in reach, scope, aspirations – from the 2015 festival? “Half of our programme is international and half is Bristol-made – that’s a big difference from last time,” explains co-director Lina B. Frank. “Circus is growing as an artform in the country and internationally and so we are experiencing a higher volume of people in the city making work independently under their own names.
“You’ll find local acts including Lavrak, Invisible Circus, Oddly Moving, Beyond the Ridiculous, GoodDogBadDog Theatre, Invisible Youth, Hawaiian Igloo Productions, our Cabaret Commission and Pangottic – all brilliant artists from our awesome city.”
Bristol’s Lavrak are also among the local acts gracing this year’s Circus City. Pic: Ellie Smart
Alongside the growth in homegrown stuff, though, this year’s festival also features more high-profile acts from further afield. “Because we had such a great success in 2015, where half of the programme sold out, we have been able to take risks on bringing in larger shows – such as Groupe Bekkrell’s The Bekkrell Effect [pictured top], which explores the links between circus and science.”
And how does Lina see Bristol’s progress in its quest to become a City of Circus? “Bristol is a Circus City – there is no doubt about that. Everyone who works with circus in Bristol is part of creating that scene and we are very proud to be part of it. The festival is a kind of punctuation mark, where we check in with the circus community (locally and globally) to highlight what is possible now, as opposed to two years back.”
He Ain’t Heavy by Oddly Moving. Pic: Paul Blakemore
Any shows you’re particularly thrilled to be bringing to town this year? “I am very excited about Swing Circus – a great chance to not just watch, but participate yourself. There will be an evening cabaret all three nights and, on the Saturday and Sunday afternoons, your ticket includes taster workshops in swing and circus skills (all experience levels). The Bekkrell Effect at Bristol Old Vic will be something special, and Cliff Jumping for Beginners is a unique venture as no two shows are ever the same.”
And why is circus so strong here? “My personal feeling is that Bristol is the city of citizens. We who live and work here love our city, and we make it what it is. Circus has a similar can-do attitude – thus, it’s a marriage made in heaven.”
Circus City Oct 12-28, various venues. For more info, visit www.bristolcircuscity.com
Top pic: Massao Mascaro
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