Circomedia hosts collaborative family show inspired by the Winter Solstice

Blending aerial acrobatics, contemporary dance and sensory theatre with live music, the family-focused show Mother Deer is coming to Circomedia for a run of performances between December 22-24.

Billed as “a wholesome antidote to consumer Christmas”, the brand-new creation from Acrobatic Adventures is inspired by an ancient Northern European folk tale of the Winter Solstice.

As a mother deer returns sunshine to the forest at the darkest time of the year, the 50-minute show highlights the importance of maintaining and celebrating our human connection to the natural world.

Its director, Hobbit, told Bristol24/7 more about it:

What is it about this particular folk tale that inspired you to adapt it for a young circus and theatre audience?

“A recurring aspect of Northern European folk tales about the Winter Solstice is the Sun goddess being pulled in a sleigh into the sky by two female reindeer. Sound familiar? When I read this, I was sad that I’d reached my 40s without knowing the original source of this detail in Santa’s story and I think it’s important to draw children’s attention back to the land-based roots of this festival season.

“It’s easy to get lost in the capitalist ideals of Christmas, which doesn’t work for a lot of families. Given the mental health, poverty and climate crisis we’re currently facing, it’s more important than ever to develop and strengthen relationships with our local natural environments and the beings that inhabit them playfully from a young age.”

For you, what is the power of movement to unlock feelings?

“The power of visceral storytelling through circus physicality is something I am passionate about. It’s hard not to dig too much into my MA research about how audiences experience the thrill of circus to explain this in neurological and physiological detail. But essentially, when we watch circus, we get to experience the relief and release we would normally get after doing something risky without having to do anything riskier than watching a show. It can have a positive impact on our wellbeing, which is incredibly powerful. I find that really exciting!

“The character of Mother Deer is played by LK Reed, who is an experienced dancer. Her movement quality enables her body to speak to the bodies of our audience. This communication bypasses the cognitive brain, cuts through our own experiences and allows the performer to hold us in a range of emotions, from joy and excitement to fear and uncertainty. It creates a community of people united by an experience and facilitates neural activity that some people wouldn’t get to experience without watching circus or dance movement.”

In making Mother Deer, what has most excited you about the process?

“I’ve really loved working with the very talented cast, and the wonderful team at Circomedia have been incredibly supportive of me and my work. I’m excited about digging deeper into the mechanisms of sensory theatre: the capacity of lighting both to evoke feelings and create atmosphere, or tapping into the power of circus to speak to the audience’s vestibular and proprioceptive senses (respectively – our sense of balance and spatial orientation, and the ability to sense movement and position in space).

“I’m fascinated by the impact of doing and watching circus on the body and mind. The thrill is one thing, but circus combined with sensory theatre has the capacity to reach deep into our bodies and leave a lasting mark on our hearts.”

How important is music in the show?

“Vital! Music is an element of sensory theatre we’re harnessing to tell the story, evoke emotion and detail the character’s journey. The musical score features community body percussion, live cello, flute, harp, shruti, and guitar; while both performances on December 23 will also feature live vocals by The Island Folk Choir.

“In addition, we have included tracks from the album Spell Songs, inspired by Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane’s The Lost Words, as these are deeply affecting works of art born from the same values as Mother Deer that help tell our story.”

Finally, can you describe how the collaboration with the refugee support charity Borderlands & The Greenhouse Education Project has shaped the show?

“Children and families who access Borderlands were involved in the audition process and the selection of our show for the Circomedia Winter Production Commission; they will receive free tickets to a show of their choice.

“The Greenhouse Education Project and children of Bristol’s circus community have been instrumental in devising the narrative, helping us to work out some of the technical, storytelling aspects of the show. They’ve contributed thoughts, experiments and ideas in our research & development sessions, and also tested craft activities at home.

“It’s important for us to be led by our audience, and having young people in the room has been both fun and enlightening. We are very grateful to the children and families who have supported the creation of Mother Deer.”

Mother Deer (age recommendation 5+) is at Circomedia, St Paul’s Church on December 22-24 at 11am and 2pm daily. Tickets are available at www.circomedia.com, and there is a ‘local to BS2’ ticket offer that families can access by contacting the box office.

The show is created by Acrobatic Adventures and commissioned by Circomedia with thanks to the support of The Leche Trust and the Garrick Charitable Trust.

All photos: Ryan Murphy, Tit for Tat

Read next:

• Bristol’s best Christmas shows 2024
• Review: The Nose Dive Assembly, St Paul’s – ‘A gravity-defying celebration of contemporary circus’
• Review: The Stolen Winter Light, The Rondo, Bath – ‘A great achievement’