10:18am Friday 21st May 2010
By Duncan Hall
An Argus Angel-winning circus is joining forces with Brighton-based performers and community groups to put together a new show for the last weekend of Brighton Festival 2010.
NoFit State Circus has been on The Level since Tuesday hosting workshops and open rehearsals with individuals and societies including martial arts academies, circus schools and samba bands.
The results of the week of rehearsals will be displayed in a free show on Sunday night, which will feature a preview of some of the activities explored during the week from 8.30pm, before the main event at 9pm.
“We have been really busy,” says Ali Williams, the circus’s creative director.
“On Tuesday we ran a talent spot, where we found five or six more local people to put in the show.
“We have also done some hula hoop workshops, rope and tree-climbing, trampet – which is a combination of free-running and trampolining, and tightwire. We held a jive dance workshop for some of our performers so they can learn a new skill, and on Wednesday night we had a big jam with Brighton musicians.”
The outline for Sunday night’s show, which will be held in the open air, has been developed over the past few days, and will be augmented by routines from local groups which will be worked into the overall structure.
This isn’t the first time NoFit State has held this sort of event, having arrived in Brighton fresh from a week of workshops in Norwich.
“It was a very different type of crowd in Norwich,” says Ali. “We were in a very posh park on the outskirts of the city. This is very different, Brighton has got its own crowd.
“We still have some of the Norwich performers who decided to run away with us, so there will probably be some who do the same in Brighton.”
The touring company itself is made up of 25 performers and volunteers, although Ali expects the cast for the final show to swell to 100 people.
The company performed the Argus Angel-winning show Tabu last year on Hove Lawns, and are currently working on a follow-up piece which will be coming to Brighton within the next two years.
“We are passionate about circus and we like working with the community,” says Ali. “They give us new inspirations and new ideas, especially when we work with highly skilled community groups that can teach us new things.
“This will be an early version of our next touring professional outdoor show.”
* Workshops and open rehearsals 2.30pm to 5pm and 6pm to 7pm. Sunday performance from 8.30pm, free
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