Barrow sets stage for UK’s first international outdoor circus festival

Lakes Alive is bringing all the fun of the circus to Barrow this summer with plans for the UK’s first outdoor circus festival on June 4-6.

After a successful pilot last year, Lakes Alive is launching Zircus Plus 2010, with support from Barrow Borough Council, featuring an even more thrilling mix of the world’s top circus acts.

Zircus Plus is part of Lakes Alive’s programme of outdoor arts events that will take place across Cumbria until 5th September. Lakes Alive is Cumbria’s unique contribution to the Legacy Trust UK programme which was set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Thanks to extra council funding, Zircus Plus has been extended to three days and will expand from Barrow Park to include sites in the Cumbrian town.

A series of workshops in circus skills are also planned for before and during the festival so people can try their hand at learning some new skills.

The dazzling international line-up includes Les Studios de Cirque de Marseille with their daredevil The Wheel of Deathand the much-anticipated world premiere of a French and Irish co-production called Madam Silk, an amazing blend of aerial dance, circus, music and video art.

There’ll also be acrobats from Tanzania, circus tennis from France and street performers from Rajasthan.

Julie Tait, the director of Kendal Arts International which creates Lakes Alive with Manchester International Arts, says: “Our aim is to put Barrow on the map as the UK’s number one circus town. Building on the huge success of last year’s event, Zircus Plus 2010 will spread its wings beyond the beautiful Barrow Park into the town centre.

“Featuring some of the best and most exciting contemporary circus acts from Britain and overseas, this year’s circus show promises to be one of the best ways to keep the whole family entertained and inspired this half term and will attract visitors from far and wide.”

Over 9,000 came to last year’s pilot festival in Barrow Park and the reaction from the audience was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

The spectacular aerial dance performance Madam Silk which can be seen at this year’s event is a co-production between Ireland’s Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Company and France’s Cie Drapes Aeriens. This visually stunning act, featuring three female acrobats suspended on drapes of fabric, will make its world premiere in Barrow.

“Spellbinding”, “breathtaking” and “magical” are just some of the words that reviewers have used to describe Fidget Feet’s previous aerial shows. Madam Silk promises to be equally enthralling.

Another premiere at Zircus Plus is the first UK performance of Gravity and Levity’s new production Re-Flex, which combines elements of acrobatics, dance and circus to astonishing effect.

Supported by the Without Walls consortium of major street arts festivals, the piece will take place above a shallow pool of water over which three performers will swoop, soar and glide. Inspired by images of bamboo forests, Asian fishermen and lagoons, this is a highly technical show that will push the acrobats to their absolute limits.

Tom Campbell, CEO of Barrow Council says: “Zircus Plus will be a spectacular, not to be missed event. We are delighted to be working once again with KAI to bring this world class festival to the borough for the enjoyment of our community and visitors alike.”

Hold onto your hearts for Les Studio de Cirque de Marseilles’ The Wheel of Death – Times’ Trilogy performance. This jaw-dropping circus stunt has to be seen to be believed.

Also from France comes Le Tennis – a fast-paced routine in which the champions of circus tennis confront each other on the court, complete with juggling clubs and backhand drives, in a fast paced rhythmic performance.

Direct from Barcelona in Spain is Los2Play – a fantastic acrobatic team who are always firm festival favourites. And Kawa Circus will feature street performers all the way from Rajasthan including singers, percussionists, acrobats and funambulists in a fusion of live music, dance, comedy, puppetry, theatre and of course extreme circus skills.

Other acts appearing at the three-day event include George Orange whose street show encompasses music, contortion, slack rope, hand balancing and dancing with a bottle on his head.

Pif-Paf will return with a new show starring a band of Kamikaze chickens in an extraordinary chicken cannonball tightrope act. The Black Eagles from Tanzania will perform out of this world acrobatics and balances while Upfront Arts will deliver a complete marionette circus show in miniature in Stanelli’s Super Circus.

Tango beats, magic tricks, flying and incredible illusions are on the menu for Wired Aerial Theatre’s Rosa’s Bar. The company will also be performing a new piece specially commissioned by the Without Walls consortium which combines Wild Aerial Theatre’s signature bungee-assisted dance with the elegant musicality of renowned choreographer Henri Oguike.

The World’s Strongest Lady Betty Brawn will deliver a power packed performance of amazing strength. She boldly claims to be able to lift any human being!

Astral Circus will enthral the crowds with a one-man stilt walking, juggling, fire eating and tightrope walking show. Another solo phenomenon is Dan the Hat whose show includes ball spinning, crazy juggling, Diablo skills and hat tricks.

The workshops will give people the chance to have a go at a range of skills such as juggling, diabolo, devil stick and hula hoop, unicycle, acro-balance and human pyramids. There will also be an opportunity to show off what you’ve learnt at Zircus Plus itself. Dates for the workshop will be announced shortly.

This year’s Lakes Alive programme will also get underway in Barrow on 29th April to 2nd May at Furness Abbey, with an exclusive world premiere by critically-acclaimed South Asian dance company Akademi.

Other highlights of the Lakes Alive season include an outdoor festival in Whitehaven showcasing the town’s historic harbour on 29 and 30 May.

From 3 to 5 June We Built This City will give people a chance to take part in a public construction extravaganza in the centre of Carlisle.

On 23 and 24 July German group Theater Titanick will stage a stunning, large-scale show involving illusion, fire, water, music and dance at Carlisle Castle.

From 28-30 July a number of Cumbrian woodlands will play host to an afternoon of shows that have been specially created for woods or with a woodland theme. Into the Woods at Grizedale, Whinlatter and Talkin Tarn will provide an afternoon of outdoor family adventure with a difference.

On 30 August highly respected French artists Commandos Percu will stage a dazzling extravaganza of sound, fire, light and colour at Maryport.

The season of events will culminate in Mintfest, one of the country’s largest street arts festivals, which takes place in Kendal at the gateway to the Lakes from 2 to 5 September.

Lakes Alive is one of three annual programmes commissioned for WE PLAY, the Northwest cultural legacy programme for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. WE PLAY is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games. The project is led by the Arts Council England Northwest on behalf of a new regional partnership. Lakes Alive is sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and has also received funding from Arts Council England and the Northern Rock Foundation.

For more information go to www.lakesalive.org

See also www.xtrax.org.uk/ for more details of Zircus Plus 2010.

Barrow sets stage for UK’s first international outdoor circus festival Lakes Alive is bringing all the fun of the circus to Barrow this summer with plans for the UK’s first outdoor circus festival on June 4-6. After a successful pilot last year, Lakes Alive is launching Zircus Plus 2010, with support from Barrow Borough Council, featuring an even more thrilling mix of the world’s top circus acts. Zircus Plus is part of Lakes Alive’s programme of outdoor arts events that will take place across Cumbria until 5th September. Lakes Alive is Cumbria’s unique contribution to the Legacy Trust UK programme which was set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Thanks to extra council funding, Zircus Plus has been extended to three days and will expand from Barrow Park to include sites in the Cumbrian town. A series of workshops in circus skills are also planned for before and during the festival so people can try their hand at learning some new skills. The dazzling international line-up includes Les Studios de Cirque de Marseille with their daredevil The Wheel of Deathand the much-anticipated world premiere of a French and Irish co-production called Madam Silk, an amazing blend of aerial dance, circus, music and video art. There’ll also be acrobats from Tanzania, circus tennis from France and street performers from Rajasthan. Julie Tait, the director of Kendal Arts International which creates Lakes Alive with Manchester International Arts, says: “Our aim is to put Barrow on the map as the UK’s number one circus town. Building on the huge success of last year’s event, Zircus Plus 2010 will spread its wings beyond the beautiful Barrow Park into the town centre. “Featuring some of the best and most exciting contemporary circus acts from Britain and overseas, this year’s circus show promises to be one of the best ways to keep the whole family entertained and inspired this half term and will attract visitors from far and wide.” Over 9,000 came to last year’s pilot festival in Barrow Park and the reaction from the audience was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The spectacular aerial dance performance Madam Silk which can be seen at this year’s event is a co-production between Ireland’s Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Company and France’s Cie Drapes Aeriens. This visually stunning act, featuring three female acrobats suspended on drapes of fabric, will make its world premiere in Barrow. “Spellbinding”, “breathtaking” and “magical” are just some of the words that reviewers have used to describe Fidget Feet’s previous aerial shows. Madam Silk promises to be equally enthralling. Another premiere at Zircus Plus is the first UK performance of Gravity and Levity’s new production Re-Flex, which combines elements of acrobatics, dance and circus to astonishing effect. Supported by the Without Walls consortium of major street arts festivals, the piece will take place above a shallow pool of water over which three performers will swoop, soar and glide. Inspired by images of bamboo forests, Asian fishermen and lagoons, this is a highly technical show that will push the acrobats to their absolute limits. Tom Campbell, CEO of Barrow Council says: “Zircus Plus will be a spectacular, not to be missed event. We are delighted to be working once again with KAI to bring this world class festival to the borough for the enjoyment of our community and visitors alike.” Hold onto your hearts for Les Studio de Cirque de Marseilles’ The Wheel of Death – Times’ Trilogy performance. This jaw-dropping circus stunt has to be seen to be believed. Also from France comes Le Tennis – a fast-paced routine in which the champions of circus tennis confront each other on the court, complete with juggling clubs and backhand drives, in a fast paced rhythmic performance. Direct from Barcelona in Spain is Los2Play – a fantastic acrobatic team who are always firm festival favourites. And Kawa Circus will feature street performers all the way from Rajasthan including singers, percussionists, acrobats and funambulists in a fusion of live music, dance, comedy, puppetry, theatre and of course extreme circus skills. Other acts appearing at the three-day event include George Orange whose street show encompasses music, contortion, slack rope, hand balancing and dancing with a bottle on his head. Pif-Paf will return with a new show starring a band of Kamikaze chickens in an extraordinary chicken cannonball tightrope act. The Black Eagles from Tanzania will perform out of this world acrobatics and balances while Upfront Arts will deliver a complete marionette circus show in miniature in Stanelli’s Super Circus. Tango beats, magic tricks, flying and incredible illusions are on the menu for Wired Aerial Theatre’s Rosa’s Bar. The company will also be performing a new piece specially commissioned by the Without Walls consortium which combines Wild Aerial Theatre’s signature bungee-assisted dance with the elegant musicality of renowned choreographer Henri Oguike. The World’s Strongest Lady Betty Brawn will deliver a power packed performance of amazing strength. She boldly claims to be able to lift any human being! Astral Circus will enthral the crowds with a one-man stilt walking, juggling, fire eating and tightrope walking show. Another solo phenomenon is Dan the Hat whose show includes ball spinning, crazy juggling, Diablo skills and hat tricks. The workshops will give people the chance to have a go at a range of skills such as juggling, diabolo, devil stick and hula hoop, unicycle, acro-balance and human pyramids. There will also be an opportunity to show off what you’ve learnt at Zircus Plus itself. Dates for the workshop will be announced shortly. This year’s Lakes Alive programme will also get underway in Barrow on 29th April to 2nd May at Furness Abbey, with an exclusive world premiere by critically-acclaimed South Asian dance company Akademi. Other highlights of the Lakes Alive season include an outdoor festival in Whitehaven showcasing the town’s historic harbour on 29 and 30 May. From 3 to 5 June We Built This City will give people a chance to take part in a public construction extravaganza in the centre of Carlisle. On 23 and 24 July German group Theater Titanick will stage a stunning, large-scale show involving illusion, fire, water, music and dance at Carlisle Castle. From 28-30 July a number of Cumbrian woodlands will play host to an afternoon of shows that have been specially created for woods or with a woodland theme. Into the Woods at Grizedale, Whinlatter and Talkin Tarn will provide an afternoon of outdoor family adventure with a difference. On 30 August highly respected French artists Commandos Percu will stage a dazzling extravaganza of sound, fire, light and colour at Maryport. The season of events will culminate in Mintfest, one of the country’s largest street arts festivals, which takes place in Kendal at the gateway to the Lakes from 2 to 5 September. Lakes Alive is one of three annual programmes commissioned for WE PLAY, the Northwest cultural legacy programme for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. WE PLAY is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games. The project is led by the Arts Council England Northwest on behalf of a new regional partnership. Lakes Alive is sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and has also received funding from Arts Council England and the Northern Rock Foundation. For more information go to www.lakesalive.org See also www.xtrax.org.uk/ for more details of Zircus Plus 2010.
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