The Invisible Circus (circus troupe)
Encyclopedia
The Invisible Circus is a group of circus performers
from Bristol
and London
in the United Kingdom.
They have appeared in over 20 countries around the world since forming in 1992. Specializing in site-specific performance and made-to-order spectacles, they have performed at events such as the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, Burning Man
in the USA, and Womad
in New Zealand.
works in partnership with property managers in order to secure and convert interesting, unusual and often semi-derelict spaces into art venues.
in Clifton, Bristol
. They ran a 12-week series of performances events called Revelations. For their work in the cathedral, the Invisible Circus won the Venue
magazine's Top Banana award in January 2008.
They headlined the big top at the Glastonbury Festival 2008
.
In early 2008 they took over the Bridewell police station in the centre of Bristol. The circus have performed their widely acclaimed, site-specific show Carny-Ville twice since opening the space.
The Invisible Circus have also performed their show Combustion Club at the Bridewell venue.
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
from 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...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the United Kingdom.
Origins
The Invisible Circus is a collective of multi-skilled artists formed during a decade and a half of world travel and adventure as street performers.They have appeared in over 20 countries around the world since forming in 1992. Specializing in site-specific performance and made-to-order spectacles, they have performed at events such as the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, Burning Man
Burning Man
Burning Man is a week-long annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, in the United States. The event starts on the Monday before the American Labor Day holiday, and ends on the holiday itself. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening...
in the USA, and Womad
World of Music, Arts and Dance
WOMAD is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world's many forms of music, arts and dance.-History:...
in New Zealand.
Artspace Lifespace
The Invisible Circus supports and is supported by Artspace Lifespace. The sister cooperativeCooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
works in partnership with property managers in order to secure and convert interesting, unusual and often semi-derelict spaces into art venues.
Recent work
In 2007, the Invisible Circus managed and ran the disused Pro-Cathedral of the Holy ApostlesPro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles
The Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles was the Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Bristol, England from 1850 to 1973.The Pro-Cathedral was replaced in 1973 by the Cathedral Church of SS...
in Clifton, Bristol
Clifton, Bristol
Clifton is a suburb of the City of Bristol in England, and the name of both one of the city's thirty-five council wards. The Clifton ward also includes the areas of Cliftonwood and Hotwells...
. They ran a 12-week series of performances events called Revelations. For their work in the cathedral, the Invisible Circus won the Venue
Venue (magazine)
Venue is the what's on magazine for the Bristol and Bath areas of the UK.It was founded in 1982 by journalists who had been working for another Bristol magazine, Out West, which had been consciously modelled on London's Time Out magazine....
magazine's Top Banana award in January 2008.
They headlined the big top at the Glastonbury Festival 2008
Glastonbury Festival 2008
The 2008 Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts was held from 25 to 29 June 2008.-New features:* The John Peel stage doubled in size and had a screen outside it to watch bands.* There was a new 'Shangri-La' area that replaced Lost Vagueness...
.
In early 2008 they took over the Bridewell police station in the centre of Bristol. The circus have performed their widely acclaimed, site-specific show Carny-Ville twice since opening the space.
The Invisible Circus have also performed their show Combustion Club at the Bridewell venue.