Did you know that London is home to the only place in the UK where it’s possible to get a degree in Circus Arts?
The National Centre for Circus Arts, based in Hoxton, trains over 700 people each week. The centre is housed in the Shoreditch Electric Light Station, a site that was rescued from dereliction in 1992 and extensively restored to finally open as Circus Space. It hasn't forgotten its past either — as evident by the likes of the Combustion and Generating Chambers training rooms.
A variety of courses, classes and workshops are open for all — those for little acrobats (the age limit is 2+!), to team building, to one-off experience days, to things for people who are serious about forging a career in circus performance.
Many graduates of the BA Hons programme go on to work for organisations such as Cirque du Solei, NoFit State and the Royal Shakespeare company, and now you have a chance to see the circus stars of tomorrow as the recent graduates present their ensemble show, Hõp at London Wonderground next week.
So head along, support the new graduates, suspend reality, and if you find yourself inspired, well … you know where to go.
Hõp is at London Wonderground from 14-16 July. Tickets cost £12.50 and can be booked online here. To find out more information about the National Centre for Circus Arts, visit their website.
