Medway young people learn new skills from the Circus
Term two of Fuse Medway Festival’s Circus School will begin at the Brook Theatre, Chatham on Friday, 13 January 2012 and as places are being snapped up fast, organisers suggest early booking.
Thanks to Fuse, a year of circus activity for young people is underway, culminating in a visit to the festival next summer of the fabulous contemporary circus company, No Fit State Circus, who will bring what is likely to be the most unusual and spectacular circus event Medway has ever seen - their new show ‘Barricade’.
Since the autumn, a Circus School has been teaching new skills, using equipment such as tightwire, unicycles, hula hoops, juggling balls, diabolo and an aerial rig. Together with further skills learned in the New Year, there will be a chance to polish up activities in an intensive three-day workshop at the beginning of June (around the week of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee) prior to performing alongside No Fit State Circus during Fuse 2012.
Lélia Gréci, Artistic Director of Fuse, said: “We were particularly keen to bring circus to Medway, not just as a fantastic performance to watch at the Fuse Festival, but as something people can participate in and benefit from. Learning circus skills develops confidence and trust, as well as decision making and team building and can provide young people with a life-changing experience. The project will also provide real professional development opportunities for our local and North Kent based circus artists, including Dizzy O’Dare Presents, who many will have seen at previous Fuse Festivals.”
It is hoped as many local people as possible will get involved with at least one circus activity. As well as the first term of the Circus School, over 800 children have already taken part in the Circus Stars Summer Reading Challenge, when free circus activities were held at all 16 of Medway Libraries.
To secure a place on the Brook Theatre Circus School, request a booking form from the Arts Team on 01634 338319 or arts@medway.gov.uk - booking opens on 10th December. For more information go to the website at www.fusefestival.org.uk.
