Putting a Spotlight on Personal and Artistic Growth with Live Performance
All of our members have the opportunity to take part in live performances – from theatre shows and big top tents to street performances and parades. Live performance is a transformative experience that goes beyond honing technical skills; it is a dynamic platform for personal and artistic growth.
Live performances provide students with a unique opportunity to showcase their talents, creativity, and hard work in front of an audience. Performing not only builds confidence but also fosters a sense of camaraderie among the circus youth. It also allows students to receive direct feedback, enabling them to refine their acts and develop resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. The magic of live performances creates lasting memories, instilling a passion for the art form and inspiring a lifelong love for circus.
This year we put on 11 shows, including two by our Youth Ensemble, a group of members aged 14-24 who created and performed a show in Galway during our Mayhem Youth Circus Festival and a show at Festival of Fools in Belfast with the support from Arts Council Youth Ensemble Scheme.
Led by circus artist and tutor Naomhan McKeon-Joyce and Galway Community Circus tutor Lisa O’Farrell, the group created ‘CHIMERA’, which was a delightful tribute to an enchanting world of magic with a lively cast of characters who embarked on a journey to explore childhood's joys and challenges.
In 2023 we also hosted two Scratch Nights, which are youth-led cabaret-style performances. Scratch Nights give our Galway Community Circus members and artists from our community the opportunity to perform in a welcoming and inclusive setting.
During our Mayhem Youth Circus Festival and Christmas Week at Galway Community Circus, we offer our members the opportunity to perform in class to family and friends. This gives our members the opportunity to show what they have learned throughout the year, in a comfortable setting under the guide of our tutors. It also lets parents and guardians see how a class is run and all the fun they get to have in class.
