Features / Bristol Harbour Festival
Harbour Festival 2017 highlights: Circus
Bristol Harbour Festival returns this weekend for its 46th year and, as always, promises to be a lively collection of activities, music, markets and exhibitions.
Every day this week, Bristol24/7 will focus on a different aspect of the celebrations in order to share some of the highlights and not-to-be-missed moments of one of the city’s finest family-friendly events.
Contemporary circus and performing arts company Cirque Bijou will once again be taking over Castle Park for this year’s festival, with a programme packed with their unique circus and theatre performances, street shows and eye-catching spectacles.
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Children can practice their circus skills with Bristol’s own circus school, Circomedia, who will be running ‘how to’ workshops and performing demonstrations. They will also be bringing in two aerial rigs, including one specifically set up to encourage and accommodate young disabled people who would like to have a go.
A special one-off performance will be happening on Friday evening, when students from Circomedia will take to the skies. The routine, which will be taking place around the famous cranes at M Shed, promises to be quite the spectacular.
Kate Lawrence, who owns and runs Vertical Dance, is at the helm of this production and has worked alongside the students to choreograph the dramatic and impressive show. Taking inspiration from the film Wings of Desire, which centres on immortal, invisible angels who long to walk amongst humans but can only watch them from atop of high buildings, the performance makes reference to this screenplay whilst also portraying a story to music.
Skilled acrobatics can be expected, teamed with dance and free movement. Kate has worked alongside the enthusiastic Circomedia students to create an engaging and remarkable form of circus performance which will ensure Bristol Harbour Festival kicks off with a bang.
Poetry performances will also be ongoing throughout the weekend at the Poetry Stage in Castle Park, which is designed to showcase some of the finest wordsmiths in the South West. 21 poets will read pieces reflecting a range of experiences and emotions, and there will be daily poetry workshops for anyone keen to take part and get involved themselves.
Read more: Bristol Harbour Festival 2017 highlights: Markets
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