Apply For VOLT: Bristol’s Circus Scratch Night

Deadline for Autumn 2025 Applications: Wednesday 4th June at 10am

Apply now to take part in our next circus scratch night! The next VOLT night takes place on Thursday 23^rd October in the frame of Circus City Festival 2025.

We’re looking for applications from artists who want to try their work out at a professional circus venue for a warm and supportive audience. This is a development opportunity – test ideas, gauge reactions and take home constructive and useful audience insights.

The emphasis is on potential, not polish. We can accept applications from circus artists aged 18+ who are based in the UK and particular interest in those from Bristol and the South West of England.

Please be aware that you will need to be available for technical and dress rehearsals for at least part of the day on Thursday, 23rd October 2025.

The panel will include: Nicole A’Court-stuart Artistic Director of Circus City, Zannah Chisolm CEO of Circomedia, Maeve McDonnell Events and Programming Officer of Circomedia and two 2^nd year BTEC students.

Applications close at 10:00am on Wednesday 4th June 2025

About VOLT

VOLT is a regional circus scratch night, creating opportunity for circus artists in South West England to share work-in-progress pieces in a professional environment. Artists present short pieces of new work to a public audience, discuss their work in feedback sessions, and invite the audience to provide constructive criticism to take away.

For scratch, your work does not need to be polished. You might see the first draft of a brand new piece, or a reworked extract from an existing show. Artists may be making their solo stage debut or moving from studies to professional performance, or they could be an established circus artist trying something completely new.

About Circus City

Circus City is the UK’s largest festival dedicated to contemporary circus. Taking place across Bristol over three weeks in October, we spark bold conversations and drive social change through fearless, boundary-breaking physical performance.

Since 2015, we’ve produced five international festivals, reaching over 20,000 people through shows, workshops, and activities. Staged in traditional theatres, community venues, and outdoor spaces, our programme features world premieres, international work, and local talent, and reflects our belief that the stage is a powerful space for diverse representation.

Outside the festival, we deliver projects that introduce contemporary circus to new audiences, foster international partnerships, and support artists across the UK to develop and share new work.

Why Apply To VOLT

VOLT aims to offer artists a valuable professional development experience, not just on the performance night but during preparation and after the event. Artists taking part in VOLT will benefit from:

The opportunity to present your work in a professional venue to a public audience
Feedback session with the audience to gauge audience reaction, initial thoughts, and ideas for development
Written feedback from the audience, focused on specific questions that you wish to explore
Professional technical support on the day; basic professional lighting and sound design
A nominal artist fee towards expenses

Application Guidance

Circomedia can accept applications from artists aged 18+ who are currently based in the UK and particularly those who are residents of Bristol and South West England.. You do not need to be a professional circus artist or have a professional circus qualification.

Pieces should be no longer than 15 minutes long, at first draft stage or a bit further ahead – we’re not looking for a tour-ready piece that’s super-rehearsed with no room for change. We need to see that you have clear ideas and a strong sense of your intentions and ambitions for the piece, but you don’t need to have a fully formed piece at the time of applying.

Consider why you feel your piece would be right for VOLT: What do you hope to get out of the experience? Why do you feel now is the right time to present it to a live audience and invite feedback? Are there particular elements you’re keen to explore and focus on?

Selected applicants will be marketed using your application content, therefore, no changes to your piece can be made afterwards.

If you have queries about eligibility or the general VOLT process, please get in touch with our VOLT producer at maevem@circomedia.com.

Apply For VOLT

Current VOLT opportunities are detailed below. Click on a date to see full details and links to our application forms, and ensure you apply by the deadline shown.

To apply for VOLT Autumn 2025, complete our online application form by midnight on Wednesday 4th June 2025.

For an informal discussion with our VOLT producer before you apply, contact maevem@circomedia.com.

If you wish to apply through a video/audio format (rather than the application form) please contact maevem@circomedia.com for further information.

VOLT Photo Credits: Paul Blakemore

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