New circus show from BAFTA-winning writer premieres in Bristol this weekend

A new show is premiering in Bristol this weekend, aiming to change the way people think about traditional theatre, circus and live performance boundaries.

The Wasteground Circus is a new show by TWO WOMEN Theatre Productions, which combines the magic of theatre with the spectacle of the circus and is currently in rehearsal in Bristol at The Invisible Circus.

The show is written and directed by BAFTA-winning writer Janys Chambers (Belonging, Holby, BBC TV; Emmerdale, ITV; New Vic; The Secret Garden, The Railway Children) and is a thrilling adventure that takes audiences on a journey into the future to rediscover the power of art and the imagination.

It will be performed indoors at Unit 15 at The Invisible Circus on Friday 1 July and outdoors at The Roundhouse at Heart of BS13 on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 July.

The show is inspired by the wonderful picture book Wasteground Circus by Charles Keeping, and the warm, funny and moving story is suitable for families, children, and people of all generations.

Circus acts, including cloud-swinging, hand balancing, aerial straps and comic Strongmen routines, are beautifully integrated into a contemporary story showcasing how you can combine traditional theatre with the daredevil elements of modern circus.

The show comes after TWO WOMEN have been working in and around the schools and communities of Bristol for the past few months delivering circus and drama workshops, and aiming to engage with those who may not usually go to the theatre or engage with performing arts.

They have been working hard, alongside Heart of BS13, to get local families involved in the circus and performing arts industry and to showcase what is on offer for people to get involved in.

Writer and Director Janys Chambers said: “We hope we have created something that is both thought-provoking and visually exciting that will appeal not only to regular theatre audiences but also to people who don’t usually go to the theatre.

“It is a beautiful, rich, multi-faceted story and in production, we are still adapting and evolving it and finding new meaning and layers. This is the magic of live performance, and we can’t wait to share it with our audiences.”

TWO WOMEN has partnered with Bristol-based Grounded Circus and The Invisible Circus to develop the show, so in an exciting development, three of the circus performers trained in Bristol. The whole performance showcases an industry in Bristol that is not often seen or talked about.

Rowen Kimpton, Grounded Circus co-founder and one of the circus performers said: “Bristol is a beating heart for the circus; the city has a high density of performers and culture, which makes it the perfect place for us to bring the story of The Wasteground Circus to life.”

The Wasteground Circus has been developed as part of a Launchpad Residency with The Invisible Circus and is supported by funding from Arts Council England. For further information visit twowomentheatre.co.uk