Circus City 2025: Bodies of Care

08/05/2026

13th June is the Bristol Made Circus event . Join us to chat all things circus in Bristol, see the census findings and imagine the next 10 years together. Ten £50 Bursaries are available to support freelancers to be part of this conversation.

We are also looking for 4 artists who would like to share new performance at this event - get in touch [email protected]

📸ARMOUR at Arnolfini by Anna Barclay

06/05/2026

A little intro to the Bristol Circus Census and how easy and quick it is to fill in! Deadline 21st May, link in bio. Add your voice to the great suggestions and reflections already submitted, some of which feature in this video.

Everything we learn will be compiled into a report for organisations and individuals to use to demonstrate the strengths and needs of circus in Bristol.

📸Charles Brockbank by Anna Barclay

01/05/2026

What locations would be on your map of Bristol Circus? It could be a place that is part of your or your companies history, somewhere current that’s important to you or even a place you want to see in the future. Tell us in the Circus Census! Link in Bio. We are mapping these locations as part of the Bristol Made Circus artist resource, supported by Bristol City Council.

Images here of Unit 15 .circus by Joe Clark and by Paul Blakemore

29/04/2026

Respond to the 2026 Bristol circus census by May 21st - Link in bio! This edition of the survey is special because the experiences, opinions and data you share will be used by Bristol City Council to inform their new 10 year cultural strategy. This means that on top of helping Circus organisations to better advocate nationally and internationally for the needs and strengths of Bristol’s circus industry, this survey will also help to shape the facilities, funding and performance opportunities on your doorstep.

The questions are mostly multiple choice with just two spaces for you to write your ideas for a better circus ecosystem in Bristol. We will then create a report to share with everyone in June. It’s a snappy 1 month window in order to feed your ideas into the council’s process, so it’s really important to get involved and share the form as we will not be able to extend.

Get in touch if you need any support - you can come to one of our open meetings at Watershed any time between 10-12 on 5th May or 4-6pm 8th May or email your thoughts to [email protected]

📸Gallery of circus city lead images from 2015-2019: photo by Joe Clark, and Mike Corr by Nic Kane, billboard by Joe Clark, by Nic Kane

22/04/2026

Let’s make circus a safer space.

Anti-racism training for circus artists, producers and arts organisations June 17th.

The 1-day course, Race Ahead, will be delivered in person at Circomedia’s Kingswood site by EDP, an award-winning Bristol-based provider specialising in mental health first aid and anti-racism education for workplaces.

What EDP says: “Educating yourself and others to be actively anti-racist is key to reaching the equity everyone deserves. As difficult as it is for people to learn the hard truths mentioned in the course, we ensure psychological safety and time to reflect and digest the information, as well as assigning support buddies in case anyone is triggered and needs time-out.”

On successful completion of the course, attendees will receive
* a course certificate
* a digital workbook to keep and refer back to
* a helpful resources guide
* an inclusive language guide
* a Race Ahead badge to let others know about your allyship and that you are a safe person to approach about racial issues.

Date: 17 June 2026
Time: 9am until 5pm
Venue: Circomedia, Kingswood Estate, Britannia Road, Bristol, BS15 8DB
Ticket price: Organisations £130 | Self funded £100 | Self funded concession £70 | Subsidised place £50

A small number of more heavily subsidised places (£5-£30) are available for circus freelancers for whom price is a barrier.

Get in touch to book [email protected]

Supported by Arts Council England, Circus City, Contra Productions and Circomedia

21/04/2026

Calling all Bristol circus crew, performers, makers, producers, riggers, teachers and students!

We’ve been selected by Bristol City Council to lead an Artist Conversations project - making sure the local circus sector is part of shaping the city’s new cultural strategy.
Over the next two months we’re gathering insight, evidence and experiences from across Bristol’s circus community and bringing the sector together to identify challenges and imagine a bright future for circus in Bristol. We need your voice to make happen.

You can get involved now by:
• Completing the Bristol Circus Census 2026 - deadline 21st May
• Booking your place at the Circus Gathering - 13 June (bursaries available) and letting us know if you have a WIP to share (expenses paid)
• Entering your creations & touring work into the Bristol Made Circus directory.
• Sending us your thoughts or pencilling one of our drop in chats in your diary.

All links + details are in the blog 🔗 in bio

We understand circus is an international and nomadic art-form, and want to hear from all those who call Bristol their home base, whatever that looks like for you. 

We’ll be sharing more over the coming weeks, but please get involved and spread the word! This is a short but mighty project and we want to make sure that your work, needs and experiences are well represented.

Bristol circus📸
Jade England-Johns, The Swing of the Axe. Photo: Anna Barclay
Jen & LK, Don’t Drop Me. Photo: Paul Blakemore
Can’t Sit Still, Oh no George! Photo: Paul Blakemore
Contra Productions, A Spectacle of Herself. Photo: Anna Barclay
Tit for Tat, Books! Photo: Anna Barclay

21/04/2026

In collaboration with Contra Productions and Circomedia, we are hosting a 1-day anti-racism course for circus artists, producers and arts organisations, delivered by award-winning Bristol-based provider EDP.

17 June 2026 | Circomedia, Kingswood | sliding-scale pricing

For more information and how to book, follow the link below. Places are limited.

Circus City, Contra Productions and Circomedia are collaborating to host anti-racism training for circus artists, producers and arts organisations. The 1-day course, Race Ahead,

12/03/2026

Having seed-funded the development back in 2021, Circus City are proud to see Period Drama return to Bristol after touring England and Wales in its fully realised form. It felt urgent at the time when it was made, and now feels even more relevant. This show has something to offer to anyone who finds it hard to exist in this world as it is unfolding.

Period Drama comes to for one night only this Friday 13th March, 7.30pm
Age 16+ (strong language, frank discussion of sexuality & mental health)⁠
Book your tickets here: https://www.circomedia.com/period-drama/

17/12/2025

We are thrilled to be part of this international festival network platforming explorations in circus and cinema, led by our friends in Cologne Our participation started this year with an exhibition of 6 films in millennium square with as part of Circus City 2025 Bodies of Care. In joining the network we are committing to showcasing the selections annually, so watch this space for more circus on film in Bristol.

19/11/2025

Announcing the New Authors Commission 2025–26: Jean-Daniel Broussé

[Insert Here] is a lecture-performance exploring the history, stigma, and cultural weight of so**my. Drawing on theory, lived experience and movement, the piece gives form to the hidden, turning shame into language, and taboo into connection.

Jean-Daniel pitched [insert here] at the Circus City New Authors event with Director Rishi Trikha. The panel were excited by the language of the project, the mix of classical and contemporary references - including painting and music - and the fusion of physicality, humour and political commitment.

“We are excited to support Jean-Daniel as a mid-career artist whose developing voice as an author and his desire to challenge his practice – as well as social norms – has much potential. We look forward to going on this journey with him and the opportunities for connection, development and discussion the project offers.” Nicole A’Court-Stuart, artistic director of Circus City

“Huge thanks to City Circus and all the New Authors commission partners for believing in [Insert Here]. I am so excited to dive deeper into this subject long kept out of sight.” Jean-Daniel Broussé

New Authors is led by Circus City, in partnership with Cirkus Syd, Crying Out Loud, Jacksons Lane, Lakeside Arts, Out There Arts, Take Art, The Lowry and Worthing Theatres and Museum and is supported by Arts Council England, West of England Combined Authority and The Garrick Charitable Trust.

08/11/2025

Some audience thoughts from the last show of the festival - the formidable Rollercoaster by at
Did you see the show? What did you think?

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