La Bonche Circus Research

Circademic studies: History, Practice, Impacts

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  • About / Projects
    • War Circus (2016-17)
    • Circus in Physical Education (2015-16)
    • La Bonche…Who Are We? (2014-15)
    • Project Photos
      • Photo Shoot – March 2013
      • Meetings & Research – 2013
      • Out & About – 2013
      • Training & Preparation – 2013
      • Discovery Museum – Oct 2013
      • Great North Museum – Nov 2013
      • La Bonche – Teachers and Mentors
  • NE Circus History
  • Photo Archive
    • Arthur Fenwick’s Scrapbook Snippets & Photos
    • Arthur Fenwick Collection
      of Circus Handbills & Posters
    • The La Bonche Collection
      of Contemporary NE Circus Ephemera
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Contact

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Project Manager

 

This La Bonche website is managed by Helen Averley ( aka Madame La Bonche), Managing Partner at Let’s Circus.

Helen is a circus practitioner and circademic. She has been in circus for 25 years, Co-ounding Let’s Circus in 2006 with Steve Cousins, Circus Central in 2009, where she was C.E.O until 2017. In 2015 she co-founded of the Circus Research Network (Britain and Ireland) with Professor Ron Beadle (Northumbria University). 

If you would like to contribute to or amend information held on this website, or if you have any other enquiries about our work please do get in touch. Please note that this website falls under Let’s Circus management and privacy policies.

If you are interested in Circus Performers and Workshops please contact Let’s Circus they will be happy to run away to join you!  (Anywhere in the UK!)

If you are living in the North East of England and want to attend a class or join a youth circus please try Circus Central  they run classes for all ages, from their School in Newcastle. 

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    Arthur Fenwick

    Arthur Fenwick sitting on the steps of Murphy's caravan Town Moor, Newcastle.

    "We may forget
    what people looked like
    or what they said,
    but we do not forget
    the way they made us feel."

    Many thanks especially to you all you photographers and archivists you have helped keep these memories alive! Including: Arthur Fenwick, T&W Archives for all the access to his wonderful Collection, Discovery Museum & Laing Art Gallery, Oran Milstein, Gaz Dick, Peter Marsh, Ray Urwin, Bell & Bullock, Helen Averley, National Fairground Archive, NCJMedia, Streets Of Festival Durham, NWSI, “Cloggs” Allan Robinson, Ian MacBeth & Various Artists promotional material. Please forgive us if any of your photos have been included and credit not given.

    Visit T&W Archives Flickr for more fantastic photos.

    We would also like to thank: TWAM Staff at T&W Archives at Discovery Museum & Great North Museum; Circus Central's Crew of Artists, Teachers & Trustees, Christ Church PCC & Christ Church C of E Primary School, JUICE Festival & Volunteers and all the extended La Bonche Family for support, sustenance and sanity.

    La Bonche Online

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    Research Lead

    Helen Averley, MA
    Madame LaBonche spangel

    Supported by

    With thanks to all our researchers and contributors

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    Various copyrights apply © 2025 Including: Circus Central, Madame La Bonche Publishing, Tyne & Wear Archives, with the originators & contributors. It should not be assumed that any material used here is in the public domain.
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