Over the first fortnight of May, as part of Wandsworth Arts Fringe, Shillington Park in SW11 will be temporarily renamed Battersea Circus Garden and play home to a pop up venue, The Big Top which itself will host a cornucopia of circus entertainment. In a programme that offers a variety of shows including international acrobatic troupes, award winning contemporary circus, dance, physical theatre and experimental work, evocative cabaret and plenty of family friendly entertainment.
We spoke to Battersea Circus Garden creator, Flora Herberich to find out more about this celebration of 250 years or circus.
Tell us about Battersea Circus Garden?
Battersea Circus Garden is a pop circus festival presenting some amazing UK and international new circus shows – performances that mix high-level circus skills with theatre, dance, storytelling and music…all presented in a bright red and shiny and brand new big top tent.
What inspired you to set up the project?
The celebration of the birth of circus in London 250 years ago, which is celebrated all over the UK. It was the perfect opportunity to produce a big, ambitious and fun program in partnership with Wandsworth Arts Fringe.
Where did your love of the circus come from?
From a few places really – one of my earliest memories is from when my parents took me to see the Chinese State Circus and there was a giant chair stack with about 20 acrobats that seemed to reach incredibly high… I actually trained as an acrobat when I was a child, then later in theatre and then accidentally stumbled across circus – the perfect combination of both.
Why is this the perfect venue for a pop-up circus?
I love that we are setting up a big top – it’s hard work but it gives a big nod to the history and tradition of circus. Plus, we are in a small, but lovely green park very close to Clapham Junction, so ideal for transport links. And it’s a bit unexpected, a slightly hidden location so I think this really adds to the charm and excitement of it all.
What kind of acts do you have performing over the two weeks?
A real variety – it was important to me to show how diverse circus creation is these days and that you can see more than one type of circus performance. We’re presenting some of the best work for children and families that’s around – The Hogwallops – fantastic show that has stormed Edinburgh twice and Moonfall – a lovely piece about reaching for the stars – literally.
But circus is not all for children!! We have award winning contemporary pieces like ‘Fauna’, a beautiful circus dance theatre piece that just premiered at The Place ‘Knot’, a hip-hop circus mash up with Simple Cypher and a queer, gender-bending cabaret ‘Our House’. Plus some other work that is not all circus, like children theatre, dance shows, a Swing Night, community groups and more.
Which circus act would you like to try yourself?
Haha good question – I used to be a circus performer. I don’t train anymore, but have an idea of what is involved, how much hard work and how physically and mentally fit you have to be. If I could I’d love to try something really big and scary like the Wheel of Death…
Battersea Circus Gardens runs from May 4 to May 13 More information and tickets can be found here.
