Circus Around and About 2


Extraordinary circus shows visiting rural and urban communities across the south-west.

Circus Around and About 2 is a south-west touring circus project, funded by an Arts Council England Lottery Project Grant. This 21-month project is led by Take Art with principal partners Crying Out Loud and Extraordinary Bodies.

Presenting partners:

AIR in G, Gloucestershire; Artsreach, Dorset; Beaford Arts, Devon; Carn to Cove, Cornwall; Cinderford Artspace, Forest of Dean; School of Larks, Stroud; Super Culture, Weston-Super-Mare; Strike a Light, Gloucester and Villages in Action, Devon.

Building on the successful 2021 pilot tour, Circus Around and About 2 is a south-west touring circus project, funded by an Arts Council England Lottery Project Grant. The project is led by Take Art with principal partners Crying Out Loud and Extraordinary Bodies, in collaboration with nine presenting partners (venues and touring schemes).

Six outstanding performing companies have been selected to bring their extraordinary contemporary circus shows and workshops to rural parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Somerset, plus urban community venues in Cinderford, Gloucester, Stroud and Weston-Super-Mare. They are: Max Calaf Sevé ('Anyday'), Levantes Dance Theatre ('The Band'), Matt Pang & Owen Reynolds ('Those in Glass Houses…'), Collective ConTakt ('Foley'), Poppy Plowman ('Turk(ish)') and Nikki & JD ('Knot').

The project aims to increase a welcome to diverse audiences including D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people. It also aims to support the circus sector, by opening up touring opportunities for circus artists, and introducing rural and urban community touring to Circomedia students.

Keep up to date with the project on socials using #CircusAround_About2.

First tour:

Anyday by Max Calaf Sevé

19 March – 1 April

The programme kicked off in March, with Max Calaf Sevé’s solo trampoline show Anyday delighting audiences at nine regional venues – including outdoors, and in the rain!

Second tour:

Foley by Collective ConTakt

4 July - 14 July

Foley, a thrilling contemporary circus show for all ages was brought to you by Collective ConTakt. The show toured to outdoor venues across the south-west this summer, exploring the highs and lows of togetherness, with exquisite live music, performed by a musician and five acrobats. 

Third tour:

Those in Glass Houses by Matt Pang and Owen Reynolds

Those in Glass Houses is a celebration of glass and all its fragilities. Two of the most trustworthy jugglers in the UK take on a giant pendulum and a ton of bricks. With the assurance of protective eyewear, glass is safe in their hands. Brace yourselves for swinging bricks, comedy catapults and glass-shattering domino runs in this adventure of controlled destruction.

For over two decades, Matt and Owen have delighted audiences throughout Europe with their imaginative and often riotous exploits in the world of circus. They have juggled everything from apples and crockery to fish and now, glass. In addition to their on-stage expertise, Matt and Owen have taught in circus schools and led numerous community and school projects, passionately nurturing creativity and skill development.

“Awe-inspiring and outlandish entertainment”

WHAT'S ON STAGE ****

Fourth tour:

The Band by Levantes Dance Theatre

Sandy and Bruno met in the seventies. She was fame hungry, he was doomed to follow her. As one hit wonders, this is a story of their big come-back. Sandy has determination. Bruno is blissfully devoted to Sandy. Now they are back - not by popular demand, but by sheer defiance. 

The Band is a quirky, humorous display of desperate ambition and blind affection told through awe-inspiring dance, theatre and contemporary circus. This show incorporates striking aesthetics and a rousing soundtrack, suitable for all the family. 

Levantes Dance Theatre is an award-winning performance company that has a constant enthusiasm for fusing artistic disciplines and indulging in vibrant aesthetics. Their performances for theatres, festivals and events are bold, bright, beautiful, inclusive and exploratory. Their original style focuses on striking visuals, engaging characters and athletic movement.

There will be opportunities for workshops and to get involved in the show, which tours the south-west this autumn as part of Circus Around And About 2.

“Theatrical close up magic!”

British Theatre Guide

Fifth tour:

Knot by Nikki & JD

Knot is an internationally acclaimed circus and dance show by Nikki & JD. It is a very modern affair, told with delicate sensitivity through breath-taking acrobatics and heart-wrenching dance. 

Knot uses circus, dance and storytelling to examine love and conflict between two people seemingly in a relationship. However, there is a twist in the tale, as the audience discover that the two acrobatic performers are actually a single 30-something woman and a gay man. This is a finely crafted theatrical journey through the struggles of commitment and asks the question:: How can we be honest with ourselves without hurting those we love? 

After working together for four years and gaining experience with other British contemporary circus companies, including Barely Methodical Troupe and Square Peg Circus, Nikki Rummer & Jean-Daniel Broussé (working together as Nikki & JD) created Knot, their first show. It was made in collaboration with the award-winning choreographer Ben Duke of Lost Dog Dance Company. 

Knot was a winner of the Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane Award for Circus 2019 and Herald Angel Award 2019, and runner up for the prestigious Carol Tambor Best of Fringe Award.

They are now touring the south-west this autumn as part of Circus Around And About 2.

“This is great work, sophisticated, sexy and yearning”

Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Sixth tour:

Turk(ish) by Poppy Plowman

Turk(ish) is an empowering, autobiographical show by contemporary circus artist Poppy Plowman. The show combines live music, high skill, humour and intimate storytelling.

Poppy uses tightwire and hair hanging to explore personal struggles of identity and Western beauty standards. Through her story we follow Poppy as she embraces who she is, encouraging and inspiring audience members to do the same and to nurture an anti-oppressive attitude. 

Poppy Plowman is a British circus artist with Turkish Cypriot origins. She has worked as a professional tight wire walker and hair hanger with several leading contemporary circus companies across Europe, before creating her own work using high level circus techniques. Here Poppy has collaborated with cellist Zara Hudson and together they combined their passions to create Turk(ish).

Poppy will be touring the south-west this autumn via Circus Around And About 2, and offering workshops in tight-wire walking as part of her tour.

“Relatable and impactful on so many levels… Everyone needs to see this show!”

Audience member

If you want any more information about this project, please contact the Project Manager, Rachael Duthie at rachael@takeart.org