Upswing Aerial

16/06/2026

Open-air circus takes over Croydon High Street this July.

Upswing and culturecroydon are celebrating Miss La La - the 19th-century Afro-German aerialist who inspired Degas, and whose portrait is hanging in Croydon right now.

We’re bringing two days of circus performances, have-a-go workshops and creative activities to the high street, free for everyone.

Featuring new performance work by some of the UK’s most exciting Black and Global Majority circus artists.

📍 For Miss La La takes place on Croydon High Street - Sat 4 & Sun 5 July, completely free

More details and how to plan your visit in our bio link.

Have you heard of Miss La La before?!

Photo credit: Vivid Squad

09/06/2026

We’re looking for a new Chair to lead our board of trustees and support Upswing through our next phase of development.

For nearly 20 years we’ve been telling stories in extraordinary ways, creating work that brings people together, celebrates diverse communities and pushes the boundaries of what circus can be, and we want you to join us in the next stage of that journey.

We’re interested in people who are committed to creating meaningful change. As Chair, you’ll work closely with our Board of Trustees, Artistic Director and Executive Director to help shape the long-term vision of our organisation.

If this sounds like you, or someone in your network, we’d love to hear from you.

Deadline to apply: Tue 1 September

More information about the role and how to apply can be found here: https://upswing.org.uk/news/join-upswing-as-chair-of-the-board/

05/06/2026

If we run a residency that isn't about showing work at the end, then what is it about? Flex Lab's lead artist Rebecca Solomon explains in our new blog. Read it here:
https://upswing.org.uk/news/why-we-run-a-retreat-that-isnt-about-output/

04/06/2026

If you care about Upswing's work and have ever wondered about more ways to get involved - consider joining our Board of Trustees! Only 4 days left to apply: https://upswing.org.uk/news/join-upswing-as-a-trustee/

28/05/2026

“In the face of funding pressures and a growing need to end a process with a product that can tick boxes, the Flex Lab community has been created in response, where the only agenda is connection and the space to simply ‘be’ as an artist”.

Our latest Flex Lab Mini brought together Black women and non-binary people working in circus for a day of unrestricted play and creative exploration at Flying Fantastic

Read more from Rebecca Solomon, Flex Lab's Lead artist, on why we run a residency with no sharing of work at the end:

Since 2021, Upswing has been running a residency for people with experiences of misogynoir and trans misogynoir*, where the measure of success is not a new piece of work. *Misogynoir and trans misogynoir refer to the specific discrimination faced by Black women and Black trans people, shaped by both...

25/05/2026

Try this with your kids this half-term 🤸🏽 If you’re looking for something fun to do at home with the family this half term, check out our Princess and the Pea circus skills video to get moving at home or out in the park! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeNyzpR-LYU

Make sure to tag us if you try any of the tricks from the video, we’d love to see what you create

Made with Unicorn Theatre and New Vic Theatre

22/05/2026

We’re looking for people from our community (that's you!) to join our board. People to sit with us, think through the big decisions, and help shape what kind of organisation we want to be in the years ahead.

We’re especially interested in hearing from people who connect with our work and values. You don’t need previous board experience, the main thing we’re looking for is people who care about what Upswing does and want to help us do it well.

As a trustee, you’ll help support our mission to tell new stories in extraordinary ways, create meaningful connections and diversify circus.

Deadline to apply: 8 June. More details here: https://upswing.org.uk/news/join-upswing-as-a-trustee/

28/04/2026

Looking back at the biggest thing we’ve ever made, set against the skyline of Bradford city centre and watched by a very large crowd who didn’t know what was about to happen.

BLOOM was made by Upswing for 2025 UK City of Culture. Featuring Upswing artists alongside local performers and community choirs.

21/04/2026

Between Beasts was our collaboration with Guildhall School of Music & Drama - made by MA students with support from Upswing & shown at Albany Deptford in March. Nathan Johnston was in the room, supporting the students over four weeks:

"We started with Angela Carter's book The Bloody Chamber - reading, discussing and finding our way before anyone touched a piece of kit. Then a circus workshop, to open up ideas and show what's possible.

Each group chose their story and took full ownership. Direction, costume, set, concept - all of it!

My role was to stay useful without taking over: ironing out ideas, explaining what circus can and can't do, suggesting other ways in when a group got stuck. In one case I became a performer, to help a group achieve what they were going for.

What's stayed with me was watching the circus performers bring a student's idea to life in ways nobody had pictured. You could see it land.

Every student had their own strengths, and the best moments came when they really used that to make things work for the group. You could see it in what they made."

Learn more about our work with schools & colleges here: https://upswing.org.uk/learning/schools-colleges

Photos by Celine McKillion