Circus Around & About was a pilot rural touring project aimed at bringing high quality, small-scale, family friendly circus to 27 village communities in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Somerset from July–September 2021. Funded by Arts Council England, the project was delivered by a partnership between Take Art and London-based Crying Out Loud.
Following the impact of Covid-19 on community life, Circus Around & About offered a varied selection of circus double bills in outdoor locations. Each outdoor event featured two shows by extraordinary national and international touring companies. All the events were set up and ran in accordance with current government guidelines on social distancing.
These performances were in association with organisations across the South West including: Artsreach, Theatre Orchard, Villages in Action, Beaford Arts, Carn to Cove, Strike a Light & Air in G.
TILLY LEE-KRONICK
Tilly Lee-Kronick is an outstanding aerialist who performs static trapeze. Her solo show Ripe is packed with fun and fresh ideas. Through humour, music and circus skills, she will unpeel your assumptions about the effortless grace of aerial acrobatics. This is one of the funniest circus performances you will ever see!
Tilly is a Bristol trained singer, dancer, aerialist and physical theatre performer. She has worked for renowned circus company Cirque Bijou and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
SIMPLE CYPHER
Prepare to be amazed by Roll Up, Roll Up as Simple Cypher perform explosive tricks with effortless agility within a large, spinning steel ring known as a Cyr Wheel. This skilled duo combines freestyle Hip Hop and acrobatics with juggling in an innovative and original way in this playful production.
Simple Cypher fuse Hip Hop and circus to create dynamic, uplifting experiences. The company’s recognisable fusion of choreography, juggling and Cyr Wheel has been seen by audiences at festivals and venues across the UK and Europe.
‘This pilot project takes more circus to more people across the South West. Crying Out Loud is very happy to be collaborating with Take Art and the Rural Touring schemes to further develop the network reaching new communities who’ve not experienced contemporary circus in this way before.’
Rachel Clare, Artistic Director, Crying Out Loud
PIRATES OF THE CARABINA
Pirates of the Carabina are award-winning circus artists, acrobats and musicians. Their brand-new show Pirate Taxi tells their own tale of running away to the circus, with humour, original music and an ingenious set. Join the adventure and watch an extraordinary aerial performance.
Based in the South West, Pirates of the Carabina are a trailblazing circus company who specialise in ingenious, theatrical circus shows with live music. They have performed at festivals and venues across the world.
COMPANY ZID
Routine by Company Zid performed by Said Mouhssine is an acrobatic comedy show. It tells the story of a person stuck in a room, with nothing to do. Sleeping is a fight against boredom but no matter what he does, he can’t even sleep. Routine is about hope and pushing personal boundaries in order to bring about change.
Said is a multi-talented, Moroccan artist who specialises in free-running (athletic street acrobatics) and circus. He is also an actor, director and stunt artist.
‘On behalf of the south west rural touring agencies, I am delighted to be developing a circus touring project with Crying Out Loud. For some time I have felt these two worlds have much to offer each other and this pilot gives us the opportunity to reach audiences hungry to re-engage with live performance.’
Ralph Lister, Executive Director, Take Art
