Fancy running away with the circus? You just might after watching the talented student and professional performers of AirCraft Circus Academy.
The Greenwich-based troupe are performing their Summer Circus Festival this weekend, with five shows spread across two days, and a stomach-lurching line up of routines performed both in the air and on the ground.
Ahead of the festival, we spoke to Lucy Francis-Litton, a trained gymnast and circus performer who runs the academy with her partner Nik, for a sneak peek on what to expect…
Tell us about the Academy. Can anybody join it or do you need some qualifications first?
AirCraft Circus Academy was set up in 2018. We offer classes for all ages and abilities. We also run a specialist programme for aspiring circus artists who want to have a career within the performing industry. We host space hires for small theatre, dance and circus organisations, and we have our own professional shows that we perform out in the industry. We are a very family focused organisation and work as a small team of people to deliver opportunities for people to be involved in circus.
You’re running a Circus Festival this summer. What can visitors expect from it?
We run two big show events in our school every year. One is the Summer Circus Festival and the other is Greenwich Circus Festival, which runs at Christmas. The Summer Circus Festival is a platform for everyone to perform if they want to. This year, our line-up includes performances from our adult flying trapeze troupe; our advanced youth programme children; our full time students revealing their graduation piece; and a cabaret night for all adults and past performers who want to showcase new work. We will also be performing a show from our in-house professional circus company.
The summer festival is always a beautiful gathering for the community of circus and a celebration of achievements and we would like to welcome new local people.
THE PROGRAMME
ENIGMA
FRIDAY JULY 21, 8PM
See the showcase of six student circus performers who have worked intensively for 16 weeks, practising their rope, straps, silks, hoop and contortion skills.
HARD ROCK CIRCUS
FRIDAY JULY 21, 9PM
Twelve professional circus performers show off their skills on aerial chains, silks, hoop, duo rope,, poi and the quad trapeze.
THE FLYING SAUCERS
SATURDAY JULY 22, 7:30PM
It’s all about the trapeze in this high-flying show, featuring six student performers.
NIGHT AT THE CIRCUS MUSEUM
SATURDAY JULY 22, 8PM
It’s over to the students again, who this time are broadening their remit and performing on silks, rope, hoop, trapeze, contortion, acrobatics, juggling and poi.
SCRATCH CABARET
SATURDAY JULY 22, 9PM
Rounding off the festival is a Smörgåsbord of 16 acts, including aerial, acrobatics, trapeze, rope, hoop and silks.
It presumably takes a lot of bravery as well as skill to become a circus performer. What would you say are the key traits?
Yes, it is incredibly difficult to become a circus performer and the biggest requirement is passion. Along with hard work, discipline, dedication, team work, resilience and desire to have a lot of fun!
What advice would you give to readers who are reading this and thinking they would like to give the circus a go?
Give it a go! There is something in circus for everyone. If you don’t like heights then try something on the ground like juggling. If you don’t like heights, try aerial anyway because it’s not as bad as you think. It’s a great way to keep fit and strong, plus it’s very social, fun and a loving, caring and supportive environment to be a part of.
I’d like to add that we are dedicated to making circus available for everyone of all ages and abilities, and we cater to almost everyone as best we can. We have the means to offer disabled taster sessions and often run these for special educational needs groups.
AirCraft Circus Academy, Thames-Side Studios, Unit 7A, Mellish House, Harrington Way SE18 5NR.
Shows on Friday July 21 at 8pm and 9pm, and Saturday July 22 at 7:30pm, 8pm and 9pm.
Admission: £25.
