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Circus Routes

Circus Routes encompasses a programme of work exploring how circus can meet local need across communities in Bristol.

Programmes in the Heart of Bristol’s Communities

We ensure that our festival programme includes free to access offers with a range of partners from Redcatch Park (2021), Bristol Galleries (2021-24), Filwood Community Centre (2024) and Heart of BS13 (2025).

We work with artists to design bespoke commissions that experiment with what circus performance can be.

Across 2023-24 we hosted residencies, workshops and performances in Filwood and in the Galleries Shopping Centre in the City Centre. You can read about that here

Improving Access to Live Performance

We continue to prioritise routes into contemporary circus for audiences, artists and creative workforces that identify as d/Deaf and disabled. Our 2025 festival programme included 7 shows with BSL Interpretation and 5 shows with live Audio Description. Of our presenting artists 25% identified as d/Deaf and Disabled or Neurodivergent.

As part of our research for 2025 we worked with Centre for the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing to influence our festival design. Our aim was to fit with their goal of creating a Deaf Friendly city by 2025. This lead to the design of a new project, VISUAL Feats that aims to explore how we support the development of Deaf-led circus.

If you are interested in finding out more visit Contact Us

For more info on our impact to date please visit Our Impact

  • I learnt I could do so many things // I would love to come here for more fun

    Children Feedback – Tit for Tat Family Workshops 2024

  • Its great to get off screens into real physical skills // Its fun and engaging and energises public spaces // Learning to focus fail and keep going // healthy alternative to screen time //A wonderful activity for children to learn. Superb staff

    Parent Feedback – Tit for Tat Family Workshops 2024

  • Loved it // Perfect spot to reach more people that wouldn’t normally come to this kind of event // I like that it was free and you didn’t have to book tickets. Makes it truly accessible.

    Audience Feedback – PUBLIC 2023

  • Emotional! Joyful! // Mind blowingly impressive, Inspirational and creative

    Audience Feedback – Foley by Collective ConTakt (Filwood)

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