Staffing at Circomedia

Teaching staff

Bim Mason - Physical Theatre, Performance Studies
Trained with Jacques Lecoq and Desmond Jones. A professional performer since 1978 with pioneering circus-theatre groups Kaboodle and his own Mummer & Dada. He has also acted with the Bristol Old Vic Company and toured three solo physical comedy shows to events such as the London International Mime Festival.

Of the many physical theatre shows he has directed, three have received Fringe First Awards at Edinburgh - with Talking Pictures (1989) and with Relects Revenge (1995 & 1997). In 1999 he founded Dark Horse, which won the Herald Angel Award in 2000.

Other directing work includes Welfare State International, Peepolykus, Macadam Theatre, Wall Street Theatre, Green Ginger Microtheatre, solo mimes and large scale international projects. Bim has taught courses in Jerusalem, Rio de Janeiro and British universities. He was one of the original teachers at Fool Time 1986-1993. His writing work includes the book Street Theatre (Routledge 1992).

Rod Laver - Equilibristics and Manipulation
Rod is a renowned variety entertainer and has recently performed in the USA, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark and Portugal. He has made numerous TV appearances worldwide, most recently for Portuguese TV's 'Herman Sic' and ITV's 'Paul O'Grady Show'. He has performed with traditional circus outfits such as Zippo's and Gandey's, and with contemporary troupe The Pack with whom he won the Prix de L'honneur at the Belgian International Festival in 1992.

He has taught juggling at Circomedia for 10 years and was also Director of Manipulation at Circus Space. With ex-Circomedia student, David Eriksson, he won the Silver Medal at Les Feux de la Rampe 2000. In 2002 he won the Bronze Medal at the International Jugglers Association Championship held in the USA. He was recently Equilibristics Consultant for Radios 4's 'Finding the Sweet Spot'.

Mike Wright - Aerial
Originally from South Africa, Mike trained firstly as a classical ballet dancer in Cape Town before joining and touring with Cape Performing Arts Board's Ballet Company. His aerial career started in the late sixties when he studied flying under trapeze supremo Keith Anderson, and went onto tour internationally with companies such as Circus Benneweis (Denmark), Circo Cesare Togni (Italy) and Billy Smarts (UK).

As well as performing and running his own company 'Above and Beyond', Mike is also a successful producer and choreographer, whose credits including producing bungee trapeze acts for the Brit Awards in 1995; producing flying acts for Euro 96 and Simply Red; producing acts for Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus Kröne and Circus Knie; and acting as a consultant for the London International Mime Festival. In 2002 he created and performed in a large-scale group aerial piece, Bar-Rock. Recently he has appeared on Channel 4 and choreographed aerial acts for a breast cancer film. He also teaches advanced evening classes in Flying Trapeze.

Jacky Crosher - Aerial & Acrobatics
Jacky began her circus career in Fooltime in 1987. Since then she has trained in aerial at Circus Space, London and at Palacy's school, Paris. She has also trained in clown and theatre with Commotion, Complicite and Phillippe Gaulier. She has a postgraduate diploma in Drama and Movement Therapy and a Class 4 Gymnastics Coaching Qualification.

She has been teaching aerial and acrobatics at Circus Space and throughout the UK since 1992. Jacky is also a performer, specialising in character and aerial. She has toured extensively around Europe with many companies including No Fit State Circus, Skinning The Cat and Inner Room Theatre Company. She also works as a solo cabaret artist.

Liz Chandler - Fitness & Choreography
Liz comes from a professional contemporary dance background. Originally from California, she received a BA in Dance from the University of California (UCLA). After graduating she went on to perform professionally with companies in both the US and the UK (Rose Polsky and Dancers, Bill T.Jones, Nikky Smedley, Sally Barlow, etc.). Since moving to England in the 90s she has presented her own choreography and has been commissioned as a choreographer for dance and physical theatre companies.

Liz also teaches at the University of Bath and developed and taught on the dance programme at City of Bath College. Complimentary studies include a range of movement disciplines. She is a fully qualified Body Control Pilates Instructor and qualified in Pilates apparatus and the machine work with Pilates Foundation UK.

Russell Jones - Anatomy & First Aid

Russell initially trained as a medical doctor, but was soon distracted by the theatre. He travelled to Australia where he worked as a doctor and also as an actor. On his return to England, he followed this new path into performing, undertaking an MA in theatre practice at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Following this, he came to Circomedia to study aerial and physical theatre. He has performed with NoFit State Circus and is a long standing member of Amphitheatre of the Arts with whom he performs regularly in London. He has also performed at various festivals, including Glastonbury and also at Great Yarmouth Hippodrome.
Russell regularly teaches evening classes in trapeze and other aerial skills. In addition to all this, he has trained as a Pilates Foundation Instructor, also with Suzanne Scott, and can still regularly be found at the Children's Hospital in Bristol, working in the Emergency Department.

Paul Clayden - Movement

Paul began performing professionally in 1980 with Micha Bergese’s Mantis Dance Company and has had the pleasure of working with DV8, Siobhan Davies Dance Company, Second Stride, Extemporary Dance Theatre, Yolande Snaith and numerous other choreographers and projects since that time. Most recently he was a performer with the Rosemary Butcher Dance Company. From 1980 he created his own work through commissions or his own Company but refrained from making work in the 1990s, preferring to focus on the performer’s process of creativity and performance.

Lisa Whitmore - Acrobatics

Lisa trained as a competitive gymnast from a young age. Studying in sports acrobatics she has an extensive experience in pair and trio acro balance and tumbling. After completing her degree in Sports and Exercise Science at Gloucestershire University, she went on to study at Circomedia, inspired by a life long interest in circus and a strong desire to continue her acrobatic training.

After leaving Circomedia Lisa has performed professionally as both an acrobatic and an aerialist throughout the UK and abroad. Her credits include the Ashes test match at Lord's Cricket Ground, Glastonbury Festival, Beechmans Circus, the Coca Cola Active Festival in Israel and appearing in corporate videos and promotions.

Shanaz trained in Theatre at Dartington College of Arts graduating in 1999 and has worked as a free-lance director with a number of theatre companies in Bristol including “Raised Eyebrow Theatre Co.” and “The New Writing Theatre Co.”. She undertook a PGCE at Cardiff University in 2002 and ran BTEC Performing Arts courses at Gloucestershire College until August 2007 when she joined Circomedia.  Her main areas of interest are in physical theatre, devising and directing with a focus on collaborative and integrated performance work. 

 

Haggis Mcleod - Equilibristics and Manipulation

Over the last 18 years, this "Juggler Extraordinaire" has trained with some of the very best jugglers in the world including Laos, Georgian and Moscow State Circuses, performed in America, Australia, Asia and Europe both solo and as half of the award-winning juggling duo Haggis & Charlie. In between times he has published videos and books teaching the art of juggling. Over the last couple of years he's been working the streets of Sydney, the catwalks of Milan and a 2,500 crowd at the world's largest juggling convention in Rotterdam, Holland.

Never quite getting to grips with formal education, David’s, revelation came when he was taught to juggle. Having found his vocation he swiftly moved on to learn most of the other manipulation and balancing skills. Then co-founded and directed the community circus group “Ultrculcha”, writing, producing and starring in several successful shows. Wanting more, he then moved to Bristol to attend various courses at Circomedia, and co-founded the circus performance company “Tabra”. Working mainly as part of an Acrobalance duo David also performs as a juggler, diabolist, hat manipulator and as various walkabout characters. “I have a passion for teaching and believe everyone can benefit from learning to juggle”.

Wayne Clendennen - Clown & Performance

Joanna Palmer - Movement, Choreography & Body Maintenance

Nikki Andrews - Acrobatics

Charles Lewson - Voice

Visiting Teachers
Sean Gandini - Creative Manipulation Residency
Gareth Bailey - Corde Lisse
Sam Veale - Ball Bouncing, Ballspinning, Devil-stick
Luke Wilson - Technical Club Manipulation
Donald Grant - Diabolo
Gary Owston - Voice
Leo Bassi - Performance
Fraser Hooper - Clown