Sheffield Circus City!

South Yorkshire circus charities Swamp and Greentop have teamed up with Sheffield City Council to celebrate Sheffield’s role as a national hub for circus arts under the banner ‘Sheffield Circus City’

Craig Gamble Pugh, Chief Executive of Sheffield-based circus school Greentop Circus explains further: “Sheffield has a long tradition as a focal point for circus in the UK- many Sheffielders may be unaware that there are more circus performers and artists in the city than any other UK location outside Bristol and London, making us one of the top three UK Circus Cities,”

Jules Howarth, Company Manager at Swamp Circus Trust, continues: “Circus plays an important role in the cultural fabric of the city and the wider region: we want to promote the idea of Sheffield Circus City to remind people of the longstanding role circus has had here,”

In addition to Swamp and Greentop, the area boasts circus artist co-operative Jamboree Circus Arts, the longest-established and largest university juggling society The Flying Teapots Circus, poi enthusiast group Poi in the Park, street theatre company Piff-Paff, and huge number of small companies and freelance circus and street artists including Meddling Pixies, Upshot Circus, Eb and Flo, and Zoot

Swamp and Greentop will be setting out their stall in Tudor Square on Saturday 21 July in Tudor Square to launch Sheffield Circus City on the thousands expected to flood in for the Tramlines and By Any Means events. Stilt walking, circus skills, and a presentation by the Greentop Youth Troupe will be on offer.

Amy Carter, Head of Arts and Culture at Sheffield City Council commented “This celebration of Sheffield’s unique cultural roots in circus and street arts will bring something unique to Sheffield, and help celebrate our status as a Circus City.”

Click here for a personal reflection on the event from one of our tutors.

Notes for editors:-

Background to Greentop and Swamp:

• Greentop is a Sheffield based community arts education charity, established in 1995, with a primary focus on the teaching of circus skills
• In 2009 Greentop utilised Arts Council funding of £20,000 to reach audiences of over 21,000 adults and 6,000 children and young people- a unit cost of 74p per participant.
• Swamp Circus Trust is England’s longest established community circus organisation, having been founded in 1986. Swamp offer a range of shows, performances and community projects.