The Circus Hub at The Meadows runs until the second last weekend of the Fringe, so get your skates on to catch a few really magical and extraordinary shows.
There are two tents, the Lafayette and the Beauty, with entertainment to suit everyone. There are some very talented acrobats, jugglers, singers and cabaret artistes among the acts.
The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to Ed Bartlam Director of Underbelly who are responsible for bringing the circus acts here from all over the world. This is the second year, and he believes the quality of acts is better than ever.
We ran away to the circus this morning and spoke to Ed Bartlam of @FollowTheCow about the shows there. pic.twitter.com/jeytODFPhO
— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) August 6, 2016
Highlights from this year’s programme include the world premiere of a brand new show from Irish chanteuse Camille O’Sullivan, The Carny Dream, featuring songs by Cave, Bowie, Brel, Arcade Fire and Radiohead. Joining Camille in the Lafayette tent are Australian sensations Briefs Factory with a world premiere of a brand new hot and sizzling show Sweat Shop; and The Raunch which brings together legendary UK cabaret performer Empress Stah and the Most Wanted of international cabaret and circus in a whip-cracking, rodeo-rocking night for the fun-hearted, not the faint-hearted! The Spiegeltent is transformed each day into a bedroom to invite audiences to snuggle up and relax in Bedtime Stories by the UK’s Upswing; and Throwback by Silver Lining sees the rising stars of UK circus create a love letter to nostalgia.
In the smaller of the two tents, The Beauty, two family favourites from last year’s Circus Hub, The Hogwallops and the sell-out success Trash Test Dummies, return. The afternoon and evening shows see circus exploring climate change, technology addiction and science’s quest for the elixir of life. With their show Perhaps There Is Hope Yet, the heart-stoppingly brilliant Company Here and Now from Australia bring a highly original circus show, which explores the humanity and beauty hidden beneath a dirtier, more cramped, changing world. Joli Vvann work with choreographer Jonathan Lunn to create an athletic and highly energetic circus and dance work Imbalance which explores our obsessive dependence on technology. The stunning Australian troupe Head First Acrobats, a sensation at Brighton Fringe last year, bring their sci-fi circus where three handsome scientists entertain audiences with their gutsy attitude, unique apparatus and hardcore tricks inElixir.
Close by in George Square Gardens, Circa, the internationally acclaimed contemporary circus company behind hit showsWunderkammer and Beyond, returns to Edinburgh for an intimate encounter, Closer which has been specially commissioned for the iconic ‘upside down purple cow’ Udderbelly. They are joined by one of Australia’s hottest and most original circus ensembles Gravity & Other Myths with their award winning display of supreme acrobatic ability, strength and skill, A Simple Space, which comes to Edinburgh off the back of their South American tour; marking G&OM’s sell-out success extending to FIVE continents.
This year the Circus Hub site will once again be made up of two tents: the UK’s largest and most spectacular Spiegeltent will take up the role of The Lafayette (625 seats); and a traditional smaller touring circus tent will stand alongside as The Beauty (250 seats).
What’s on at the Circus Hub?
The Lafayette
CIRCUS FAMILY WORKSHOPS (Full Cirqle)
12.30pm (weekdays) and 10.30am (weekends). (60 mins)
Mon 8th – Mon 22nd Aug (not Mon 15th)
Presented by Underbelly Productions
BEDTIME STORIES (Upswing)
2.30pm (60 mins)
Additional 12.30pm shows Saturdays & Sundays
Thurs 4th – Mon 22nd Aug (not Mon 15th)
THROWBACK (Silver Lining and Jackson’s Lane)
4.30pm (60 mins)
Thurs 4th – Mon 22nd Aug (not Mon 15th)
Presented by Jackson’s Lane, Underbelly Productions and National Centre for Circus Arts
THE RAUNCH (Underbelly Productions, Yorkshire Festival and Zero Central)
6.30pm (60 mins)
DATES 4th – 22nd Aug (not Mon 15th)
CAMILLE O’SULLIVAN (Bound & Gagged Comedy in association with Tim Whitehead)
8.30pm (90mins)
Thurs 4th – Mon 22nd Aug (not Wed 10th or Mon 15th)
SWEAT SHOP (Briefs Factory)
11.00pm (60 mins)
DATES 4th – 22 Aug (not Mon 15th)
The Beauty
TRASH TEST DUMMIES
1.30pm (60 mins)
Additional 11.30am shows on Saturdays & Sundays
Thurs 4th – Mon 22nd Aug (not Mon 15th)
Presented by Underbelly Productions
THE HOGWALLOPS (Lost In Translation Circus)
3.30pm (60 mins)
Thurs 4th – Mon 22nd Aug (not Wed 10th or Mon 15th)
PERHAPS HOPE (Company Here and Now)
5.30pm (60 mins)
Thurs 4th – Mon 22nd Aug (not Mon 15th)
JOLI VYANN: IMBALANCE (Turtle Key Arts)
7.30pm (60 mins)
Thurs 4th – Mon 22nd Aug (not Wed 10th or Mon 15th)
ELIXIR (Head First Acrobatics)
10.00pm (60 mins)
Thurs 4th – Mon 22nd Aug (not Mon 15th)
Udderbelly
CLOSER (Circa)
6.55pm (65 mins)
Wed 3rd – Mon 29th Aug (not Wed 10th, Tues 16th or Tues 23rd)
A SIMPLE SPACE (Gravity & Other Myths)
3.15pm (60 mins)
Thurs 4th – Thurs 25th Aug (not Wed 10th, Wed 17th or Mon 22nd)
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