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VOLT Circus Scratch Night
Thu 17 Oct, 7:30pm
Welcome to our next popular circus scratch night!
VOLT is a regional circus scratch night, creating an opportunity for circus artists 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.
Keep an eye on this page as we will be announcing four fantastic acts very soon…
Image credits: Paul Blakemore
One in Three
Phoebe Baker (She/Her)
The piece is a truly personal exploration into returning to the highwire after major physical and emotional trauma. It explores the struggles and joys of returning to a discipline with a different physicality and mentality. It also looks at the themes of female empowerment, calling on some of the anger that Phoebe feels, as a woman, in a world where femicide and violence against women is still so prevalent. Within this acknowledging that throughout history circus has done something that no other performing art is able to achieve: It has welcomed women for who they are and recognised their physical strength and abilities and allowed them to show their bodies on their own terms.
With over a decade of experience making shows, Phoebe has created large-scale outdoor spectacles and narrative-based storytelling shows around tightrope and highwire rigs, performing at Glastonbury Festival, So Festival, Western Australian Circus Festival, and GDIF.
After a few years break to recover from a major accident and having a child, Phoebe is very happy to be making work again and has more recently been drawn to explore new dimensions of wire walking with a focus on empowering women. Recently, she was awarded a commission to make a piece for Glastonbury festival, leading her to create a female wire walking troupe named ‘Daughters of the Dust’.
Keep an eye out on our Volt Instagram story highlight for more info on the cast.
Slump
Bee Kirkwood (They/Them) and Charlie White (She/Her)
Slump is a circus theatre show that explores the themes of loneliness and creative struggle. Through powerful physical storytelling, the piece delves into the mental and artistic slumps we all experience as humans. It highlights the inner voice that pushes us forward, reminding us that with support and resilience, we can find the strength to move ahead.
This is the first step in developing a longer 40-50 minute touring show. Slump is in its early stages, representing an exciting R&D process where the performers are beginning to bring these ideas to life.
In Slump, the performers capture the emotional highs and lows of battling self-doubt, while discovering the importance of connection and support. With raw, expressive movement and aerial rope work, this piece invites the audience to reflect on their own struggles and the power of perseverance.
Age Rating: 12+
Content Warnings: Themes of Isolation, Anxiety, Grief, Mental Health. Strong Language.
Keep an eye out on our Volt Instagram story highlight for more info on the cast.
Giving Feet
La Mery and Saskia Collyns
‘Giving Feet’ explores the bond between two women as they support one another in the intimacy of a sleepover, their safe space away from the outside world. Through the art of doubles trapeze and physical theatre, the performance examines the dynamics of giving, receiving, and mutual support, all whilst ‘keeping up appearances’.
Rara Avis is a new collaboration between La Mery and Saskia Collyns. Rara Avis is passionate about making work that draws from their lived experience and rejects traditional roles within duo aerial work.
Keep an eye out on our Volt Instagram story highlight for more info on the cast.
VOLT Junior Producers
This year, we have recruited two Junior Producers to support our Producer with the running of VOLT. Circomedia students Grace Sheppard and Ella Simcock will be learning the ropes when it comes to scheduling, marketing, pre-show prep and the ins and outs of working backstage on an event that has multiple shows from multiple performers. Keep an eye on our Instagram on show week for a Junior Producer take over!
‘I am excited to see where this role could lead me in the future. I am looking forward to meeting the artists and team!’ Ella Simcock
‘I’m very excited for the opportunity to help produce Volt and inturn showcase the amazing acts and artists that will be gracing Circomedia’s stage!’ Grace Sheppard
BOOKING INFORMATION
Dates & Times: Thursday 17 October, 7:30pm
Tickets: Full Price £12, £7 concessions and students
Age guide: 16+
Location: St Paul’s Church, BS2 8SJ
The seating configuration for most our performances is flexible, but generally, our main seating area is raked and seats are unallocated. The front rows are level and accessible, and aisle seats are available. Please get in touch to reserve seats in these rows are required.
Please note that seating in our Gallery is accessed via a flight of stairs and is not accessible for audience members who may find stairs difficult or impractical.
Wheelchair and step-free access can be found at our side entrance of St Paul’s Church. We use What 3 Words to give you an exact location on a map. Follow the link below to find this entrance.
Side Entrance Exact Location: https://what3words.com/mostly.ledge.chop
Main Entrance: Stepped Access
For performances, our main double doors serve as the principle entrance. This entrance consists of three steps up to the Box Office foyer, and three further steps up to the main building. We use What 3 Words to give you an exact location on a map. Follow the link below to find this entrance.
Main Entrance Exact Location: https://what3words.com/total.offer.native
Free Tickets for Carers
If you are a dedicated carer accompanying a paying visitor who is disabled, you are eligible for a free ticket (limited to one carer per paying visitor). To book your ticket, please give us a call on 0117 9477288 or email boxoffice@circomedia.com.
Circomedia does not issue refunds unless the event is cancelled or postponed to a date on which you are unable to attend.
VOLT Photo Credits: Paul Blakemore