Apply For VOLT: Bristol’s Circus Scratch Night

Deadline for Autumn 2024 Applications: Monday 22 July

Apply now to take part in our next South West circus scratch night! The next VOLT night takes place on Thursday 17th October 2024, and applications close at 11:59pm on Monday 22 July 2024!

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 South West England.

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.

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

The chance to test new ideas and develop or rework pieces in a safe environment

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

Professional photographs of your performance for your personal and professional use

Video footage of your performance for applications, promotion, and personal reflection

In-house support in shaping your feedback questions and helping you get the most out of the experience

A nominal artist fee towards expenses

Application Guidance

Circomedia can accept applications from artists aged 18+ who are currently residents of 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?

If you have queries about eligibility or the general VOLT process, please get in touch with our VOLT producer at freyam@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 2024, complete our online application form by midnight on Monday 22nd July 2024.

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

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

VOLT Photo Credits: Paul Blakemore

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