Circus / News
Circus performers compete for inaugural Richard Award
A new award aimed at celebrating and encouraging new circus talent in Bristol has been handed out for the first time.
The culmination of the inaugural Richard Award saw aerialists, contemporary clowns, jugglers and acrobats perform in front of a capacity audience at Circomedia’s home of St Paul’s Church on Portland Square.
From a shortlist of seven finalists, the winner was aerialist Eloise Currie, who aid that she was “utterly overwhelmed” to win the £750 prize which also comes with mentoring support.
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The Richard Award is in memory of Richard Ward, who pioneered circus training when he set up Fool Time, the predecessor to Circomedia.
Seven performers competed for the inaugural Richard Award
Richard Award co-creator Audrey Michel said: “We were really excited to launch the award and to celebrate Bristol’s immense circus heritage in both training and performance.
“Before Fool Time people had to be born into the circus – or run away with it if they wanted to learn the skills, but Richard changed that forever.
“Both Fool Time and Circomedia attract students from all over the world helping to establish Bristol as a Circus City with a reputation for physical performance creativity, training excellence and innovation.”
It is hoped that the Richard Award will become a biennial event
Read more: Circomedia to create UK’s biggest circus centre in Bristol
All photos by Story 35
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