The Wasteground Circus
Touring summer 2023
To book the show contact ddeborahjd@gmail.com
Watch this space for more information!
Pilot performances
The Wasteground Circus was performed at Unit 15, The Invisible Circus on 1st July and at the Roundhouse, Heart of BS13 on 2nd, 3rd July, 2022.
Audience quotes
"I loved the combination of circus, with storytelling. The children loved the humor and the dare devil stunts (and were amazed by the rope swinging). It was a really lovely show and such a perfect setting for it."
"The aerial work was superb, the acrobatics, the clowning, and the story telling/acting. There was a real message of hope about the human heart. I liked that this was open to all, and that it may have been a first experience of this kind of theatre, for some. The location was amazing too. Views across Bristol, from this incredible venue, which really added to the ambience of the show."
"A highly unusual mix of drama and circus. It has great circus technique and also characters that we care about and feel for. The piece is really really easy to engage with because it has comedy and simplicity. At the same time it takes the audience to a place where they have to think about the nature of relationships, how the future might be, and what a poorer world it would be without circus and art."
The story
It is 2080 and most of Britain is under water. Frankie and Lex are best friends and trying desperately to keep their friendship going. They meet once a week at an abandoned playground on the top of a hill, close to the tower block where Frankie lives. One day, a circus comes to their wasteground. It is not quite what they expect, despite the sensational strong men, stunning acrobats, and women flying through the air, it is not quite what they expect. When the circus leaves, for one of them, life will never be the same again.
Background
The Wasteground Circus is an innovative cross-form circus-theatre piece inspired by the wonderful children's picture-book Wasteground Circus by Charles Keeping. The production is a partnership between TWO WOMEN, Grounded Circus, and Invisible Circus (which has awarded TWO WOMEN a competitive Launchpad Residency for the project) and has been funded by Arts Council England for performance in Bristol on 1, 2, 3 July 2022.
The Wasteground Circus is a magical new show, a warm, funny and moving story set in a futuristic Britain that fuses the best of theatre with the spectacle and thrill of circus. It is suitable for everyone over the age of 8 - young people, adults, and families.