Circomedia
Encyclopedia
Circomedia is a school for contemporary circus
and physical theatre
based in Bristol
, England
. The school offers a variety of training courses and workshops that teach circus skills
in the context of physical theatre, performance and creativity.
It was founded in 1993 by Bim Mason and Helen Crocker, rising out of the ashes of Fooltime, Britain’s first circus school. It is financially supported by Arts Council South West and a range of other funding.
, juggling
, acrobatics
and physical theatre
. After completing the diploma, students may join the 10-week Act Creation Course, or may undertake teacher training.
Other training programmes include:
in St Pauls, Bristol
.
Contemporary circus
Contemporary circus, or nouveau cirque , is a genre of performing art developed in the later 20th century in which a story or a theme is conveyed through traditional circus skills. Animals are rarely used in this type of circus, and traditional circus skills are blended with a more character-driven...
and physical theatre
Physical theatre
Physical theatre is used to describe any mode of performance that pursues storytelling or drama through primarily and secondarily physical and mental means. There are several quite distinct but indistinct traditions of performance which all describe themselves using the term "physical theatre",...
based in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The school offers a variety of training courses and workshops that teach circus skills
Circus skills
Circus skills are a group of pursuits that have been performed as entertainment in circus, sideshow, busking or variety/vaudeville/music hall shows. Most circus skills are still being performed today. Many are also practiced by non-performers as a hobby....
in the context of physical theatre, performance and creativity.
It was founded in 1993 by Bim Mason and Helen Crocker, rising out of the ashes of Fooltime, Britain’s first circus school. It is financially supported by Arts Council South West and a range of other funding.
Courses
At the core of the school's training programme is the one-year Diploma in Circus Skills and Physical Theatre, which includes trapezeTrapeze
A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances...
, juggling
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
, acrobatics
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
and physical theatre
Physical theatre
Physical theatre is used to describe any mode of performance that pursues storytelling or drama through primarily and secondarily physical and mental means. There are several quite distinct but indistinct traditions of performance which all describe themselves using the term "physical theatre",...
. After completing the diploma, students may join the 10-week Act Creation Course, or may undertake teacher training.
Other training programmes include:
- a Foundation Degree (FdA) in Contemporary Circus and Physical Performance in partnership with Bath Spa University
- a BTECBusiness And Technology Education Council (BTEC)The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
National Diploma in Performance for 16-18 year olds - adult evening classes open to the general public
- circus workshops and team-buildingTeam buildingTeam building refers to a wide range of activities, presented to businesses, schools, sports teams, religious or nonprofit organizations designed for improving team performance...
events
Outreach
Circomedia also runs an outreach programme for local young people out of its site at St. Paul's ChurchSt. Paul's Church, Bristol
St Paul's Church gives its name to the surrounding St Pauls area of Bristol. It was built in the 1790s but fell into disuse and disrepair by its closure in 1988. It is a Grade I listed building....
in St Pauls, Bristol
St Pauls, Bristol
St Pauls is an inner suburb of Bristol, England, situated just north east of the city centre and west of the M32. It is bounded by the A38, the B4051 and the A4032 roads...
.
See also
- Haggis McLeodHaggis McLeodHaggis McLeod is a juggler who has performed for years as half of the comedy street show duo Haggis and Charlie.He was born Ian McLeod, son of Harold Leonard Hodges. He specialises in solo club juggling, club passing and hat juggling...
, who teaches Equilibristics and Manipulation at Circomedia - Dick PennyDick PennyDick Penny MBE is an arts administrator, consultant and producer, based in Bristol, England. Before his involvement in the arts, he worked in manufacturing industry, computer programming and the building trade.-Biography:...
, formerly a member of the board of Circomedia - Ockham's Razor Theatre CompanyOckham's Razor Theatre CompanyOckham’s Razor Theatre Company is a British aerial theatre company. Their critically acclaimed work combines circus and theatre, and they specialise in creating physical theatre on original pieces of aerial equipment and create stories from the vulnerability, trust and reliance that exists between...
, formed in 2004 by three Circomedia alumni