British Circuses

A word about the definitions. No two circuses are alike but, with the broadening range of experiences on offer, it can be helpful to clarify what sort of production you are likely to see. ‘Classic’ here does not necessarily mean animal acts (although it may); it refers instead to a traditional compilation of unconnected acts. ‘New’ refers to productions which compile acts tied together with an ongoing theme or narrative; ‘Contemporary’ relates to productions which focus on the conceptual, often working within a specific discipline, and combining with dance and post-dramatic theatre dramaturgies.

We also have ‘circus-theatre’ – companies that focus on theatrical story-telling, but utilising some traditionally circus-based skills to do so, and ‘aerial dance’, a discipline that has sprung from a choreographic start point using aerial techniques. (There are also many companies that act mainly as event organisers or agencies, which are not included here).

Sometimes companies go dark for several years and then reappear, or are sometimes never seen again. Links have been removed from those who haven’t been active for a while. Please get in touch to add any updates!

ACROJOU – Contemporary

ASTRAL CIRCUS – Classic

BARELY METHODICAL TROUPE – Circus-theatre

BASSLINE CIRCUS: New

BIG KID CIRCUS – Classic

BILLI SMILES CIRCUS – Classic

BILLY SMART’S CIRCUS- Classic

BLACKPOOL TOWER CIRCUS – New/Classic

CHAPLIN’S CIRCUS – New

CHARLES CHIPPERFIELD CIRCUS – Classic

CHINESE STATE CIRCUS – New

CIRCUMFERENCE – Contemporary

CIRCUS FERREL – New

CIRCUS FANTASIA – Classic

CIRCUS FUNTASIA – Classic

CIRCUS FUNTASTIC – Classic

CIRCUS GINNETT – Classic

CIRCUS OF HORRORS – New

CIRCUS MONDAO – Classic

CIRCUS PAZAZ – Classic

CIRCUS SALLAI – Classic

CIRCUS STARR – Classic

CIRCUS TYANNA – Classic

CIRCUS VEGAS – Classic

CIRCUS WONDERLAND – Classic

CIRCUS ZYAIR – Classic

CIRQUE BERSERK – Classic

CIRQUE DU HILARIOUS – Classic

CIRQUE NORMANDIE – Classic

CITRUS ARTS – Circus-theatre

CONTINENTAL CIRCUS BERLIN – Classic

CRASHMAT COLLECTIVE – Contemporary

DIZZY O’DARE – Circus-theatre

GANDINI JUGGLING – Contemporary

GANDEY’S CIRCUS – Classic

GERRY COTTLE’S CIRCUS – Classic

GIFFORDS CIRCUS – New

GRAVITY & LEVITY – Aerial dance

HAPPY’S CIRCUS – Classic

HIKAPEE – Circus-theatre

HIPPODROME GREAT YARMOUTH – Classic/New

INSECT CIRCUS – New

INVISIBLE CIRCUS – New

JAY MILLER’S CIRCUS – Classic

JOHN LAWSON’S CIRCUS – Classic

LET’S CIRCUS – Classic

LIVING ROOM CIRCUS – Contemporary

LOST IN TRANSLATION – Circus-theatre

MARY BIJOU CABARET AND SOCIAL CLUB – New

MIMBRE – Contemporary

MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS – New

MR FIPS WONDER CIRCUS – Classic

NEARLY THERE YET – Circus-theatre

NETHERLANDS NATIONAL CIRCUS – Classic

NATIONAL FESTIVAL CIRCUS – Classic

NOFIT STATE CIRCUS – New/Contemporary

OCKHAM’S RAZOR – Contemporary / Aerial dance

PANGOTTIC – New

PANIC CIRCUS – New

PAULOS CIRCUS – New

PETER JOLLY’S CIRCUS – Classic

PINDERS CIRCUS – Classic

PIRATES OF THE CARABINA – Contemporary

PLANET CIRCUS – Classic

ROGUEPLAY THEATRE – Circus-theatre

RUSSELL’S INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS – Classic

SANTUS CIRCUS – Classic

SCARABEUS – Aerial dance

SILVER LINING: New/Circus-theatre

SQUARE PEG – Circus-theatre

STUMBLE DANCE CIRCUS – Contemporary

SWAMP CIRCUS – New

TUMBLE CIRCUS – New

UNCLE SAM’S GREAT AMERICAN CIRCUS – Classic

UPSWING – Circus-theatre / Aerial dance

WIRED AERIAL THEATRE – Circus-theatre / Aerial dance

WONDER CIRCUS – Classic

WOOKEY HOLE CIRCUS – Classic

ZIPPOS CIRCUS – Classic

.

pledge button.

12 comments on “British Circuses

  • ‘Smile’, by Circus Renz International | The Circus Diaries , Direct link to comment

    […] My excitement tingled as I drove towards Apeldoorn for the performance, unsure of how I would find this traditional format, complete with horses, camels and elephants.  Whilst writing for this site, I am a firm believer in the literal meaning of ‘contemporary circus’; that is, circus of the moment, rather than something defined by a particular set of artistic principles.  In spite of this, the majority of my viewing experience comes from the performance categories commonly referred to as ‘new’ and ‘contemporary’ circus, which have moved away a from traditional compilation of disparate acts into more concept driven production.  (See my definitions here.) […]

    • Katharine Kavanagh , Direct link to comment

      When I made the list, the info I could find about them on the web suggested that they tie their acts together with a narrative, which is a step away from the strict classical model. I haven’t any first hand experience though, so can change it if this is incorrect?

      (I also agree that the current labels we have for different strands of circus-based performance aren’t accurate any more, but time moved on and the names seem to have stuck)

  • Dave , Direct link to comment

    My learned friend Ira, suggested ‘revival’ as a descriptor. Not in a pejorative sense but for act or circuses that reference the past. If we went along with that taxonomy we might have ‘revival’, ‘narrative’ and ‘abstract’? Might that cover everything? 🙂

    • Katharine Kavanagh , Direct link to comment

      Ooh, that is interesting! I don’t think those terms include everything though… something doesn’t have to be abstract to be non-narrative, for example. A show could still convey meaning but through composition and semiotic layering rather than story-telling. I could also see problems with shows that are not reviving anything but, rather, maintaining a tradition. As with anything linguistic though, labels come through use rather than design in almost all cases, so if the majority of the circus world is using one thing I guess that’s stuck whether I like it or not!

Leave a Reply