Invisible Circus returns to Bristol
One of Bristol’s key cultural collectives, The Invisible Circus, is staging a creative comeback in the city.
Announcing an artist residency at The Prospect Building.
Known for immersive, site-specific spectacles that blur the boundaries between theatre, circus and protest, the Invisible Circus will now co-produce shows alongside one of Bristol’s most exciting cultural spaces, located in a former torpedo factory in St Phillips.
Doug Francis, co‑founder of The Invisible Circus, said: “We are lucky to have found a partner in The Prospect Building that will enable us to have a full scale return to the city for our performance elements, while we fundraise for a permanent home for the circus with a training and residential facility.
The city is experiencing a broader cultural reckoning which was underscored by our departure from Unit 15. Gentrification is steadily devouring vital artistic spaces in Bristol’s centre so we’re grateful for a space that supports big ideas and bold artists and can host shows at a huge scale without stripping away the anarchic magic we live for.”
The Prospect Building is an industrially majestic venue with soaring high ceilings, rigging-ready beams and production know-how that has welcomed ambitious performance innovations. In a rapidly gentrifying landscape where many artists face displacement, it stands as a rare beacon safeguarding cultural possibility and supporting grassroots creators.
The Invisible Circus will be both programming circus productions and its large scale spectaculars within the venue and welcoming the circus and theatrical community to reform a creation space for rehearsal, creative sessions and performance.
Will Harold, director of AMAAD, who operates the venue, added; “This residency is a chance to resist everything that’s pushing culture to the margins and a chance for site specific circus to continue in the city. We’re proud to be able to give a home to one of the city’s most exciting cultural collectives and to continue fulfilling our commitment to The Prospect Building as a cultural hub for Bristol, the South West and the UK.
Follow @invisible.circus and @theprospectbuilding for updates and artistic line‑up announcements.
Read the latest What’s on in Bristol at https://directlocalbristol.co.uk/whats-on-bristol/
