Endorsement for the National Centre for Circus Arts Launch
“Our creative industries are worth £8 million an hour to the UK economy and circus arts
make a valuable contribution to this. The National Centre for Circus Arts will have a huge
role to play not only in training circus companies and artists around the country, but also in
nurturing future talent through their Youth Circus activities. I hope the launch of the National
Centre will encourage more people to look at the amazing, creative ideas and projects that
stem from circus arts in the UK.”
Ed Vaizey, Culture Minister
“Most people are probably unaware that modern circus was invented in London in the late
18th century by a chap called Philip Astley. It is a constantly evolving tradition and Circus
Space has been the ringmaster for the last 25 years, developing the skills of some of the
best circus performers, aerialists and acrobats in the world. I'm thrilled it is to become the
National Centre for Circus Arts and know it will soar to even greater heights.”
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson
“I am delighted that Circus Space has achieved the recognition it so well deserves as the
new National Centre for Circus Arts. The organisation did a terrific job for LOCOG in 2012
when they created and delivered a unique training programme for fifty deaf and disabled
artists who were at the heart of the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.”
Lord Sebastian Coe
“It is terrific to see that Circus Space is taking on the challenge of being a National Centre for
Circus Arts. This will allow the amazing work they do in this dynamic art form to take its
rightful place in the UK’s cultural landscape. Having worked with Circus Space during the
Olympic year here in London I am delighted to see their hard work, creativity, can do attitude
and keen ambition being recognised in this way.
As a retired circus performer myself I am particularly proud that Britain can now boast of a
National centre to promote and train this constantly emerging art form.”
Stephen Daldry OBE, Film Director
“The recognition of The Circus Space as a National centre is long overdue. Since the
investment of the Dome Project in 1999 the organisation has become ever more relevant
and central to the performing arts training available in the UK. Circus is central to the global
entertainment map and Circus Space is now firmly on that map. This is just the beginning of
a British recognition of Circus as a main stream performing art form. As a National Centre
Circus Space can now move forward with confidence and as an important voice within our
national arts landscape. As a National Centre it is crucial that importance and its positioning
within the arts debate grows, and a new era for Circus in the UK can begin.”
Paul Cockle, Producer and Managing Director, The Generating Company
“Circus Space without doubt has earned the right to carry the mantle of National Centre for
Circus Arts. The team possess an extraordinary wealth of world class knowledge and
expertise. They have a real depth of understanding of training, performance and recognise
the need for bespoke routes of progression to enable them to nurture their students and
performers to ensure everyone reaches their potential. It is an organisation that is not afraid
to take risks and push the boundaries of what is possible artistically and aesthetically.
Grease has a long history with Circus Space and without their commitment to diversity and
passion to explore circus training within the Deaf and disabled community we would never
have been able to launch the largest ever training initiative to skill up this community and
create a body of 44 professionals who performed in the Opening Ceremony for the
Paralympic Games London 2012.”
Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director, Grease Theatre Company
“When I became Director of RADA, one of the chief attractions of also becoming a part of
the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama was that amongst its affiliates was Circus Space,
whose work I had encountered as a parent of children on their youth programme. Through
having observed their work at this proximity, I was extraordinarily impressed by the rigour
and playfulness of their work, qualities not often found together in training and precisely
those I wanted to bring to the teaching and learning at RADA.
Having worked with the Circus Space team now over the last 6 years, I am endlessly
inspired by the way that they bring these qualities not just to their training, but to whole
organisation: an attitude which for me places them not only at the cutting edge of UK
performance, but of Higher Education practice as a whole.
Their recognition as the National Centre for Circus Arts in one way only proclaims a selfevident truth, but is also a significant milestone in the remarkable path they have beaten
towards making Circus the recognised and significant art form it is in many other countries.
The next steps along this path, some of which I hope RADA will share, are truly exciting and
have the capacity to change the landscape of performing arts in the UK.”
Edward Kemp, Director, RADA
“The National Centre for Circus Arts is a wonderful place, that gives children a strong sense
of physical confidence - an awareness of what they can achieve and express with their
bodies. In today's 'couch potato' society, it's a treasure.”
Toby Stephens
“I first came across the National Centre for Circus Arts about 20 years ago when it was
Circus Space. It was a magical place then, filled with young artists and performers learning
the most extraordinary and daring physical skills. I rediscovered it a few years ago and it still
holds that magic but has grown into a wonderfully creative and diverse environment for
young performers to explore and create in a safe environment which prepares them for the
challenges and adventures that lie before them as performers in Circus Arts.”
Anna-Louise Plowman