Circus / Family circus
‘Failfailfailfailwin’ – a family circus comedy show about the value of failure
Mark and Loz James – better known to young families in Bristol as Marky Jay and Loz Because – are seasoned and highly skilled circus performers who have performed internationally, to all ages.
But as they readily admit, “circus is really hard”. It was this very fact that became the kernel for the development of their new show, Failfailfailfailwin, which will be at The Wardrobe Theatre during the summer half term, on June 2.
Inspired by the language of internet culture, in which ‘fail’ and ‘win’ seemed to dominate, as well as in their experience teaching and performing circus, the pair began thinking about how this binary might be interrogated creatively.
is needed now More than ever
Loz James, Failfailfailfailwin – photo by Sandy McClure
“We see videos online citing people that are ‘full of wins’, says Loz, “as well as fail compilations on Tiktok and Instagram, making young kids too intimated to try things – or even admit that they wanted to.
“This would not stand! So we made a show about it.”
So how can circus help to cut through any fears associated with failure, and to help children to apprehend the value of failing on the way to success?
“In our experience, children don’t understand the value of failure at all,” reflects Loz. “The same is true of most grown ups, though.
Mark James, Failfailfailfailwin – photo by Sandy McClure
“Reframing failure as a helpful – and even a positive – thing that is vital on a journey of learning can be tough. But we’ve found that using circus to illustrate the learning journey in a physical and visual way (whilst hopefully being entertaining) is a brilliant tool.”
Failfailfailfailwin sees guest appearances from El Diablo, Mark’s Mexican wrestler character, who proffers advice on controlling negative thought patterns, as well as Colin the Crab, Phyllis the haunted hula hoop, and Steve Chimpington, the tough love monkey made famous in the Marky Jay Monkey Magic Show (also coming to the Wardrobe Theatre, with a performance on June 1).
Throughout the hour-long show, it’s the ideas generated from improvising and workshopping in front of young audiences that are front and centre.
Loz and Mark James, Failfailfailfailwin – photo by Sandy McClure
Mark and Loz ran a series of Bristol school residencies in which they showcased different scenarios and tested the children’s reactions. “Kids are such an honest barometer of what is good or not,” Loz admits.
“You can spend two weeks in a studio working on bits you think they’re going to love, only to perform to a wall of confused faces. They they lose their minds laughing at loose shoelaces that you hadn’t even noticed.”
While it’s still in its early stages, all performances of the show are guaranteed to be peppered with plenty of unplanned moments that take everyone by surprise, and make for a unique audience experience every time.
Failfailfailfailwin – poster by Loz and Mark James
Working as a duo, throwing in improvised elements keeps the energy fizzing, and helps to maintain a sense of connection with children and adults alike. “Our comedy is obviously mostly aimed at the youngest members, but we want to enjoy it ourselves, so we throw stuff out there for the grown ups, too,” says Loz.
For Mark, the success of Failfailfailfailwin has many facets. “I just want everybody to feel seen,” he explains.
“From the sceptical dad who’s expecting to hate it and is taken by surprise when we make him laugh, or the kids who come away with a feeling of maybe giving things a go, having watched grownups who seemed fine when things went wrong; to the mums who suggest to their husbands on the journey home that they grow a beard like that juggler – that, to me, would be the perfect show.”
The Marky Jay Monkey Magic Show is at The Wardrobe Theatre on June 1 at 11am; tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.
Failfailfailfailwin is at The Wardrobe Theatre on June 2 at 11am; tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.
Main photo: Sandy McClure
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