The Circus Village Festival

13 / 14 / 15 / 16 April

(SABOTAGE opens prior to the festival, from 7 April)

SABOTAGE brings a darker, grittier, and more subversive edge to NoFit State's trademark large scale contemporary circus spectacular. Back in the Big Top with incredible new acts, original music, new apparatus and a more theatrical feel, SABOTAGE challenges the status quo. This is an energising, uplifting and socially relevant contemporary circus production. 

Nothing in SABOTAGE makes it unsuitable for children, but it was not made specifically for them.

Tickets: £18 Full Price | £14 Concession | £55 Family of 4 

13 / 14 / 15 April

The Wing Scuffle Spectacular is a celebration of fear. Fear is an essential part of all our lives but rarely do we celebrate what it does for us. Without it how can we learn or grow as people? The Wing Scuffle is a joyous, absurd flirtation with that which we cannot avoid. rejoicing in both our ability to confront fear, and our ability to face it with ridicule.

The Wing Scuffle Spectacular is suitable for all ages and a hit with kids.

Tickets: £16 Full Price | £12 Concession | £47 Family of 4 

13 / 14 April

Where outdoor arts and tented circus meet! Join the first performance of this unique experience and be part of everything that happens behind the scenes. Before the show can begin the big top must be erected, the safety of the trapeze tested, and the stage levelled to keep the unicyclist from toppling off. Witness incredible circus acts outside and inside the canvas and feel part of the shows creation. A light-hearted spectacle sure to keep you entertained.

This is a family friendly show - don't worry!

This is a work in progress showing, developed at The Circus Village.

Tickets: Pay What You Feel (£0, £1, £2.50, £5, £10 per ticket)

13 April

Bitchcraft is an immersive, dark comedy, dance theatre & Circus show about Witchcraft, Feminism & Witch Hysteria. Exploring ritualistic, contemporary choreography, aerial rope, the art of hair-hanging, Cyr Wheel & interactive fire sculptures in a spellbound spectacle! This 5 day R&D showing is brought to you by Kitsch & Sync Collective; Kylie Ann Smith & Kim Noble with Esther Vivienne Fuge, Claire Crook and Stuart Bawler from Hummadruz....
'You Can't Burn Women Made of Fire!'

This is a family friendly show - don't worry!

This is a work in progress showing, developed at The Circus Village.

Tickets: Pay What You Feel (£0, £1, £2.50, £5, £10 per ticket)

13 / 14 / 16 April

Leyton John, former stand-up comedian and actor but now wheelchair bound with chronic M.S. shares his story, using his own brand of humour, wit and resilience. Directed by Firenza Guidi, teaming up with performers David Murray and Olga Kaleta, Leyton’s dark tale is brought to life with a light touch, promising to be a heartfelt and uplifting experience for all. 

This is a work-in-progress showing, supported by funding from Arts Council Wales and Circus Village. 

Suitable for those 12+ 

Tickets: Pay What You Feel (£0, £1, £2.50, £5, £10 per ticket)

15 / 16 April

Turk(ish) is a work in progress showing of an autobiographical piece using a combination of live music, contemporary circus and storytelling to discuss personal struggles of identity and Western beauty standards.  

This show has an age guidance of 12 plus, as there is some strong language.

This is a work in progress showing, developed at The Circus Village.

Tickets: Pay What You Feel (£0, £1, £2.50, £5, £10 per ticket)

8pm - Saturday 15 April

The Village People Circus Cabaret night will feature the most audacious and outlandish participants and artists who have been resident at The Circus Village in the lead up to the festival. Join them for one night only as they come back together to showcase a varied and unmissable collection of contemporary circus acts.

More details on acts to be revealed closer to the time.

Suitable for those 18+ 

Tickets: Full Price £10 | Concession £8

Saturday 15 April | 10.30am - 4pm

Everyone is welcome to join The Circus Village FESTIVAL site in Swansea for our Free Family Fun Day on Saturday 15 April!

You can enjoy all the fun of the circus on Swansea Recreation Ground, surrounded by Big Top circus tents. There will be tonnes of fun circus activities for kids of all ages, entertaining walk-about performances, and special guests that will be revealed closer to the time. The site will open at 10.30am, and don’t worry, our Café and Bar will be open to make sure you can keep having fun all day long.

There will be lots of free outdoor performances, but if you want to enjoy even more circus and can't resist the call of the Big Tops, you can also buy tickets to SABOTAGE by NoFit State Circus (4pm) and The Wing Scuffle Spectacular by The Revel Puck Circus (1.30pm).

Thursday 13 April | 11am - 1.30pm

The Circus Village is the biggest sector development programme for circus artists in the UK. On Thursday 13 April, we are welcoming producers, promoters, festivals and venues from the UK and beyond to join us to become empowered, confident and brave in programming all forms of UK circus any and everywhere, including Big Tops. Talks include: “How to bring the Big Top to you”, “Programming circus in venues”, and “Circus Everywhere”, with a focus on outdoor performance. Speakers include Billy Alwen of Cirque Bijou, programmer of Glastonbury’s big-top Jade Dunbar, and Andrew Loretto of Winchester Hat Fair.

Alongside, artists will be supported with a series of sessions from development companies including Circus Change Up, Circus Works and Circus Futures. This is the biggest gathering of circus artists, companies and promoters in the UK, and an opportunity for us to bolster our artform and promote it nationally and internationally. It’s a day not to be missed. 

There are 2 strands on the Circus Sector Day, one is for Producer, Promoters, Venues, Festivals and Bookers, the second strand is for Artists & Sector Professionals.

No booking is necessary, email [email protected] for more details.