Circus Shows and Events in Bristol This Summer

Roll-up, Roll-up! Bristol’s acclaimed contemporary circus school and performance venue have announced their summer season of shows and events!

 

Circomedia are kick-starting their summer on Friday 1 May with a four-day mini-festival of new performance by their graduating degree students in Final Major Projects. Each night features a new and dynamic line-up – from amazing aerial and beautiful storytelling to a high-octane wheel of death act. This is a fantastic opportunity to support and celebrate the next generation of circus artists as they showcase their creativity, circus and performance skills.

Get into the community spirit on Saturday 2 May as Circomedia bring Circus in St. Paul’s to Diverse Artists Network’s city-wide DIASPORA! Festival programme. Ideal for ages 3 – 12 and their families, this free, diaspora-led day of circus and creative activities on Portland Square is hosted by Circomedia and delivered in partnership with Diverse Artists Network, Aid Box Community and creatives from Bristol’s wider diaspora community.

 

 

Continuing their showcase of high-quality student performance, don’t miss Circomedia’s second-year degree students in their captivating group production of Ensembles on Friday 15 & Saturday 16 May, combining exceptional circus and physical theatre with ingenuity and daring. Catch the first-year degree students the following month on Friday 19 & Saturday 20 June as they present their End of Year Show, taking inspiration from the vibrant performance culture of the 1930s when vaudeville ruled the stage.

For those seeking circus with a whimsical feel, don’t miss Down the Rabbit Hole on Thursday 21 & Friday 22 May. Presented by Circomedia’s graduating BTEC cohort, in this bold, circus-filled reimagining of the classic story, a cast of unforgettable characters will combine aerial skills, acrobatics, juggling and storytelling to take audiences on a journey into Wonderland.

Be sure to catch The Curtain Calls on Friday 5 June before it goes on tour. This new, family-friendly production by Circomedia’s third-year company In a Pickle Circus, highlights the extraordinary spirit of circus life on the road. Packed with breathtaking aerial, daredevil acrobatics, mesmerising juggling and plenty of laughter, The Curtain Calls is perfect for audiences who love a little bit of silliness with a whole lot of skill.

The cherry on top of Circomedia’s latest season is their Summer Spectacular on Saturday 27 June. This dazzling, feel-good cabaret fundraiser will showcase and celebrate circus talent from Bristol and beyond. Complete with a world-record breaking juggling attempt from Circomedia’s own Rod Laver and an exciting raffle of exclusive prizes, audiences can expect high-energy acrobatics, astonishing aerial, and jaw-dropping juggling, all with a sprinkling of summer sparkle. Tickets for this fun-filled fundraiser are pay-what-you-can at £50, £35, or £25 per ticket and all funds raised will be invested in the training of new and exciting talent in contemporary circus and physical theatre.

 

 

Also coming up at the city-centre venue this summer, House of Bousse present their latest show TRANS/FORM, combining cabaret, drag and performance art on Thursday 28 & Friday 29 May.

Enjoy new music under the high ceilings of the St. Paul’s Church venue as Ziggy 2000 presents a new music night with performances from local bands Horsefair and Princess Boyfriend on Saturday 30 May, and alt-folk label Cuculi Records host their latest gig on Saturday 6 June with artists to be announced soon.

Bristol Pride will return to the Circomedia stage with their popular annual Pride Circus Night on Thursday 2 July. This one-night-only event is a showcase of boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ circus performers from around the world, combining acrobatics, comedy and spectacle.

For those interested in learning some circus skills of their own, Circomedia runs a range of recreational classes for all ages at their St. Paul’s and Kingswood training spaces. Ages 4 – 18 can take part in week-long Summer Youth Circus Camps for all abilities and experience levels this July and August. Adults can sign up for one of Circomedia’s Adult Circus Skills Classes for both beginners and improvers, where experienced instructors teach aerial skills, acrobatics, handstands and more. And ages 5 – 18 can join Circomedia’s after-school Youth Circus club – with limited spaces remaining this summer, sign up to join them in the September term today.

Find out more and book tickets for Circomedia’s summer shows at www.circomedia.com/whats-on.

 

See the latest What’s on in Bristol at https://directlocalbristol.co.uk/whats-on-bristol/