In spring 2017 Let’s Circus took the art of circus performance to one of the most amazing locations in the UK – the Shetland Isles, a unique place of peace, pure air and wide open spaces.
In April we delivered preliminary shows and appearances at the Shetland Folk Festival before starting our tour of the isles. We visited Mid Yell, Whalsay, Brae, Aith and Sandwick, and were the first circus to get to these outlying locations. Following the regional tour we became resident in Lerwick, setting up the Magpie Tent as a schools education venue and theatre for our 6 sold-out shows. For the Shetland population this was the first circus to visit the islands in at least 12 years. Our tour introduced the art form to the young generation for there first time.
Over 1,500 schoolchildren took part in the outreach program of workshops and school visits, from Unst, Yell, Fetlar, Whalsay, Fair Isle, Foula and across the mainland from Dunrossness to North Roe. We engaged over 90% of the schools with this outreach work.
Within the framework of this project we also provided circus volunteering opportunities for our young arts enthusiasts, with 8 volunteers helping out over the month with rigging, tech, lighting, front of house duties, running schools workshops and learning some circus skills themselves. These individuals are now making their way into the arts industry and have reflected fondly upon their time with the circus.
With the help of Shetland Arts as our major local partner we delivered one of our most successful projects to date. A full reflection upon this can be seen in the evaluation video linked in the top right.
Here are some references from audience:
“Both my lasses took part in the workshops in Mid Yell and loved it, brilliant to bring something different to the schools.”
“The children loved the workshops, the performers had patience and humour which made the children feel at ease.”
Project Lifetime: 1 month
Location: Shetland Isles
