Staffing at Circomedia

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Management and Administration

Artistic Director Bim Mason

Chief Executive Officer Jan Winter

Finance & Operations Louise Ripley

Event & Centre Manager, Portland Square - Jude Hutchen
Head of Critical Studies - Amanda Bolt
Student Support and Courses Manager - Saba James
Marketing Manager - Pam Beddard
Marketing Officer - Ali Campbell
Agency Manager - William Pritchard
Technical Manager - Joe Mapson
Outreach Manager - Rebecca Fitzgerald
Technical Officer - Max Morley
Technical Officer-Events - David Mitchell
Office Manager - Gillian Donald
Administrative Assistant - Sarah Wrann
IT Officer - Wayne Clendennen
Front of House Manager, Portland Square - Julie Higgins
Caretaker - Thomas Cunningham

Teaching staff

Physical Theatre, Performance Studies - Bim Mason
Bim Mason 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).

Equilibristics and Manipulation - Rod Laver
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'.

Aerial - Mike Wright
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.

Acrobatics - Lisa Whitmore
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.

Head of Critical Studies - Amanda Bolt
Amanda’s background is in contemporary dance and performance art offers a broad perspective to students studying on the course. She has a degree in Visual and Performing Arts from Brighton University, and MA in Dance Studies from Surrey University and is nearing completion of a PhD in Improvisation. She also teaches improvisation and played Amelia Aircraft in the 30 hour Improvathon at the Bristol Old Vic. Since starting at Circomedia she has taken up aerial so she can sympathise with the aches and bruises of the students!

Clown & Performance - Wayne Clendennen
Wayne began his performing career with the renowned ‘Fanzini Brothers’. Performing in the street show tradition for over 10 years, he left Ireland to study at Circomedia, where he was introduced to the world of contemporary clowning and the art of performance.

He has also qualified as a teacher, and has studied with some of the great clowns/directors of this age, Angela de Castro, Fraser Hooper, Mick Barnfather, Bim Mason, and Gerry Flanagan.  With his enthusiastic affinity for clown and performance he continues to pursue his passion for the art form.

Aerial & Acrobatics - Jacky Crosher
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.

Special Projects Manager - Kate Webb

Head of Movement - Lex Rooney
Lex trained in contemporary dance at Swindon Dance and London Contemporary Dance School, before going on to complete a BA(hons) in Dance at Bath Spa University. She then went on to complete a Master’s Degree at Laban, specializing in European Dance Theatre Practice. Lex is an experienced performer/practitioner, working in Dance, Theatre and Film. She currently performs with The Bureau of Random Acts (Bristol), Swerve Dance Theatre Company (associate company of Swindon Dance) and has recently performed in Willi Dorner's Bodies in Urban Spaces.

Lex has a passion for teaching and has taught in a variety of settings from Higher Education to youth and community projects (including work with adults and young people with social, physical and learning difficulties); She was Co-founder of Train of Thought, an Arts-based educational co-operative; developing and delivering a series of freethinking, multidisciplinary, creative workshops to young people across the South West. As well as teaching at Circomedia, Lex is a Senior Lecturer on the BA(hons) Dance at Bath Spa University, specializing in Dance Theatre and Choreography.

Visiting Teachers

Sean Gandini - Creative Manipulation Residency
Haggis McLeod - Equilibristics and Manipulation
John-Paul Zaccarini - Guest Director
Richard Headon - Site Specific
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