In 2018 we celebrated 250 years of modern circus.  As part of this celebration we were awarded funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund to research in to Bristol’s own circus heritage.  Working with members of our youth circus, students from Orchard School and a group of volunteer researchers we uncovered Bristol’s own longstanding history ofcircus.   Supported by our partners; Myers-Insole Local Learning, the University of Bristol Theatre Collection, Bristol Archives and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery an exhibition was created celebrating the themes of risk and risqué, invention and re-invention as well as our past and future.  The exhibition visited Bristol Museum, Circomedia, The Theatre Collection, Creative Youth Network, Bristol Cathedral and Bristol Central Library and is now available online.

Circus 250 Oral Histories

Circus 250 Museum Exhibition Screen 1 

Circus 250 Museum Exhibition Screen 2

Circus 250 Museum Exhibition Screen 3

Circus 250 Museum Exhibition Screen 4

Circus 250 Museum Exhibition Screen 5

Circus 250 Museum Exhibition Screen 6

You can also hear the fantastic oral histories collected and curated by Tot Foster.

If you would like to host the exhibition or to organise a talk from one of our researchers – contact katew@circomedia.com.

More information about the project can be found on http://www.locallearning.org.uk/circus–250/