20th C visits In the Scrapbooks there is a description of the Fossett’s in the 1940’s Picture post article – “Presenting the only family in the world which is a circus and the only circus in the world in which all the performers are the members of the same family … every relation is an… [Read More]

Late 20th C Newcastle Chronicle and Journal have an archive which includes photos of touring circuses which have mostly come to the Town Moor in Newcastle, including Austin’s, Billy Smart’s, Gandley’s, and Harlequin Circuses. This is the traditional stand where circuses pitched their tent, and has seen shows varying in scale and type. As the… [Read More]

1990s – to date Moscow State Circus, MSC (managed by Gerry Cottle) supplied photos to local newspapers as part of it’s press campaign. On the back of a 1990 photo are the following statistics: “In a typical 38 week tour this mobile community of 80 people travels 2500 miles, uses 1000 gallons of fuel for… [Read More]

Late 1980s early 1990s Nitty Gritty Jugglers, was formed by Alex Marshall in 1987. When he returned to Oz, a few years later he left contracts (workshops & Performance) that were taken up by Simon Schofield & Tony Rogerson, Karen Bell & Michelle Weaver. Chandra Nauth-Misir relates that Simon & Tony performed “beautifully well-timed &… [Read More]

1990s – date Frank Wilson, and his company Event International, is an important figure in the International Street Arts industry, based in the North East. He is known Internationally as a Promoter and Producer. He was involved at the beginning of Stockton’s International Riverside Festival, and still programmes this, now in partnership with the Council…. [Read More]

1991 – 1993 Chimaera Trapeze and Fire Theatre was a circus cooperative based in Middlesbrough from 1991 – 1993. It performed on a 30ft high trapeze rig and fire set which toured regionally, nationally and internationally. Chimaera produced quality punk-esque shows with a strong female cast (and 17 year old gymnastic lad, AJ Hudspith/James) they… [Read More]

1993 – date Based in Newcastle, Neighbourhood Watch Stilts International (NWSI) is a Street Theatre partnership of Paul Miskin & Maysie Sharp who are Artists, administrator, maker and performers. With a core of around 50 free-lance performers: musicians, inflatablists, pyrotechnicians, stilt-walkers and aerialists, many of whom have performed with the company for ten years. Since their… [Read More]

Late 1980s to 2008 The Buddle Arts Centre, Wallsend, had a few circus workshops in the late 80s early 90s but it wasn’t until 2003 when it began to develop as a Circus Incubation space. This was made possible by Joe Price, Black Box, who negotiated the use of the North Wing of the building… [Read More]

1994 – date Bravura was established in 1994 by Barbara Agar and husband Richard. Barbara, a trained teacher, started her artistic career as a result of a course with Welfare State International. Barbara is the artistic director of Bravura, which is based in a large agricultural shed in Stokesley, near Stockton. Bravura have been involved… [Read More]

1991 – date Bullock was made redundant from the Navy in 1985. He started juggling at “the Elephant Fair” in Cornwall. Attended Fool Time, Bristol and in 1987 he was their trapeze teacher. Bell, a Newcastle Polytechnic student started learning circus skills in 1990. She went on to perform with Chimaera in Teesside, and also… [Read More]