Circomedia Youth Circus

Circomedia Youth Circus offers children aged 2 – 18 the chance to enter the extraordinary world of contemporary circus and physical theatre.

We run regular after-school sessions, parent-toddler classes, specialist sessions, holiday camps and more across three sites in Bristol and Frome.

Regular Youth Circus Sessions

Ages 5 – 18
Mondays – Fridays in Bristol & Frome

Led by our professional circus tutors, our after-school sessions offer a varied programme of acrobatics, aerial skills, manipulation & equilibristics and performance skills.

Children will try everything from diabolo to trapeze over the course of the year, and develop their co-ordination, build physical and mental resilience and make friends in a relaxed, creative environment.

These sessions are open to all ability levels; you don’t need any previous experience, and our tutors will help each student progress at their own pace.

We currently have long waiting lists for our regular classes.

Family Circus Sessions

Ages 5 +
Sundays, St Paul’s Church, Bristol

These open, family recreational sessions are great fun for just children or the whole family! You will need to book a space for each family member adults and children aged 5+ who would like to have a go on the circus equipment. Whether you are discovering circus for the first time, or coming in to practice your favourite trick, there is something for everyone.

Each Sunday we will run one class for ages 5+. Facilitated and supervised by our team of experienced Youth Circus tutors, these sessions will offer a variety of different circus equipment and encourage children to practice, play, and explore what they can do.

Each session will start with a short safety briefing from the tutors, then you’ll be free to use the available equipment.

Holiday Youth Circus Camps

Ages 4 – 18
Summer Holidays at Circomedia Kingswood, Bristol

Circomedia’s Holiday Youth Circus Camps offer children aged 4-18 the chance to take part in a jam-packed week of circus fun!

Students join our expert tutors for five days of circus workshops, skills sessions, games and more. They’ll learn a huge range of circus disciplines, covering aerial disciplines, acrobatics, tumbling, juggling, and balancing.

Holiday Camps are open to all levels, whether you’re a regular student or you’re trying circus for the first time!

Parent & Toddler Circus Classes

Ages 2 – 4
Sundays at Circomedia Portland Square, Bristol

The Sparrows is our popular weekly pre-school class! Run weekly on Sunday mornings, Sparrows is designed for parents and toddlers looking to take their first steps into the amazing world of circus.

Classes are led by our qualified team of tutors who will instruct and guide both parent and child through the activities. So everyone – come ready to try out the circus magic with your little ones, whether it’s walking the tight wire, juggling scarves, or even swinging on the trapeze!

Aerial Classes & Specialist Sessions

Ages 10 – 18
Various times, Bristol & Frome

We run regular classes for older students who want to focus on their aerial skills, either in addition to their after-school classes or as standalone training.

We also hold regular one-off sessions that focus on particular skills, some that might already be familiar from regular classes such as stilt walking, and some completely new skills like Spanish web and Chinese pole!

For those willing to take the leap, there are also under 18s Flying Trapeze classes.

Useful Information

Here you’ll find some general information about our Youth Circus programme. You can find detailed information on individual class pages below.

Here are our 2024 – 2025 term dates for regular after-school classes in Bristol & Frome:

Autumn Term 2024 (Sep – Dec)

Mon 9 Sep – Fri 13 Dec 2024 (13 weeks)
Half term: Mon 28 Oct – Fri 1 Nov 2024

Spring Term 2025 (Jan – Apr)

Mon 6 Jan – Fri 4 Apr 2025 (12 weeks)
Half term: Mon 17 – Fri 21 Feb 2025

Summer Term 2025 (Apr – Jul)

Mon 21 Apr – Fri 17 Jul 2025 (12 weeks)
Half term: Mon 26 May – Fri 30 May 2025

Here are our 2023 – 2024 term dates for regular after-school classes in Bristol & Frome:

Summer Term 2024 (Apr – Jul)

Mon 15 Apr – Fri 12 Jul 2024 (12 weeks)
Half term: Mon 27 May – Fri 31 May 2024

Please note that while we aim to keep to our planned term dates, we may sometimes need to make changes and will inform parents of any changes via email and text.

Regular After-School Classes

We’re currently at waiting list capacity for most Youth Circus after-school classes.

Wait times vary depending on location and age group, but are normally between 3 – 8 months. Wait times for Frome are not as long as for Bristol classes.

To join our waiting list, fill out our online form.

Holiday Camps

Our Holiday Camps are open to all on a first-come, first-served basis. Camps go onsale in early December, but they do sell out fast so we advise booking early!

Under 18s Aerial Classes

Our Frome aerial classes are part of our regular after-school programme: to join these, please fill in the waiting list form above.

Our Bristol aerial classes are separate to our regular after-school classes – these are on a first-come, first-served basis, booked in 6-week blocks throughout the year. Find out more here.

Regular after-school classes and aerial classes work out at £8.50/h (£6 concession), paid termly or monthly (e.g. a 1h class costs £102/£72 concession for a standard 12-week term).

One-off Sunday Family Sessions – £8.50 per attendee, per session.

Holiday Camps range from £160 – £200 for the full week depending on age group.

Specialist sessions are approx. £15-22 per session.

Flying Trapeze sessions are approx. £15-35 per session.

We offer concession rates for those on lower incomes; Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credits and Pupil Premium. Our Youth Circus Access Scheme provides full and partial bursaries for regular classes and holiday camps.

St Paul’s Church, Bristol (BS2 8SJ)

Our Grade II-listed converted church building is a fantastic place to learn circus, with high ceilings, a sprung dance floor and professional circus equipment. Located near the centre of Bristol, it’s convenient for many areas of the city. Regular classes, specialist sessions, weekend U18s aerial classes, and performances take place at St Paul’s church.

Kingswood Estate, Bristol (BS15 8DB)

Our site in East Bristol is spread across a number of spacious studios in a converted Victorian school site, now owned by the Creative Youth Network (CYN). Students work across a few different studios, each with ground-based equipment and professional aerial rigging. Regular classes and holiday camps take place at the Kingswood Estate.

Avanti Park School, Frome (BA11 1EU)

The beautiful school hall at Avanti Park has aerial rigging points and plenty of space for ground-based activities. It’s easy to reach for students living in Frome and the surrounding areas. Regular after-school classes and U18s aerial sessions take place here.

Support our Crowdfunder

For years, we’ve brought the thrill of aerial silks, the joy of juggling, and the balance of tightwire walking to 7500 children and young people across Bristol. Through our workshops and classes, we make circus accessible to all, we create a safe, inclusive space where young people can build confidence, learn new skills, and experience the magic of performance. But we need your help.

Much of our equipment has served us well but is now reaching the end of its life. To continue offering access to high-quality, safe, and accessible training for more generations to come, we need to replace our essential circus equipment. This isn’t just about equipment; it’s about keeping the joy of circus alive in our communities. We have a fundraising target of £3000. Please visit our Crowdfunder today!