14 January 2010 For immediate release

Roundhouse CircusFest 2010 The UK’s foremost festival of international contemporary circus 7 April – 16 May 2010

- Five weeks of the finest contemporary circus

- World premiere of Trash City’s new show (UK)

- UK premiere of Compagnie XY’s Le Grand C (France)

- UK premiere of Circolombia’s Urban (Columbia)

- UK premiere of Acrobat’s Propaganda (Australia)

- World premiere of Marisa Carnesky’s Dystopian Wonders (UK)

- Circus-themed films, talks and exhibitions

- Young people involved on stage and behind-the-scenes, reflecting the Roundhouse’s commitment to 11-25 year olds

World premiere Trash City Wed 7 – Sat 10 April / Main Space / £17.50-£20 Since debuting at Glastonbury in 2007, Trash City has become a critically acclaimed cult sensation, hailed as one of the most exciting and innovative events to hit the UK festival scene in recent years. Now they’re bringing their apocalyptic assault on the senses from the field to the Roundhouse for four incredible nights of circus, cabaret, bands and DJs. This show contains nudity and is for over 18s only.

UK premiere Compagnie XY – Le Grand C Sat 17 – Sat 24 April / Main Space / £15-£25 French ensemble, Compagnie XY brings its extraordinary new production to the Roundhouse. It’s a humorous show with an edge, for audiences of all ages who enjoy a spectacle with risk, daring and world class acrobatics.

UK premiere Roundhouse Circus Company – Narcissus Circolombia – Urban Thu 6 – Sun 9 May / Main Space / £10-£15 A double-bill of shows from two exciting youth circus companies. The Roundhouse Circus Company offers a contemporary mix of acrobatics, parkour, freerunning, break dancing and martial arts. While Circolombia, an outstanding troupe from Cali in Columbia, marries volcanic energy with a contemporary urban aesthetic to produce a flamboyant display of awe-inspiring acrobatics and dance.

UK premiere Acrobat – Propaganda Thu 13 – Sun 16 May / Main Space / £17.50-£25 Following big successes at the Roundhouse with Smaller, Poorer, Cheaper in 2007 and Acrobat in 2002, the company returns with a new show featuring its trademark disciplined physical skills, calculated self-derision, and raw, uncompromising approach.

Sugar Beast Circus – The Milkwood Rodeo and Sugar Beast Circus Show Wed 14 – Sat 17 April / Studio Theatre / £8-£10 Where circus meets live art. Sugar Beast Circus is a collective of artists, performers and designers whose work breaks down the barriers between theatre, gallery and big-top. This double-bill is directed by circus maestro, Geneva Foster-Gluck. Supported by the Roundhouse Associate Artist Programme.

Marisa Carnesky – Dystopian Wonders Wed 21 – Sat 24 April / The Dorfman Hub / £8-£10 Delving into the strange worlds of waxworks and religious cults, creator of Carneskys Ghost Train, Marisa Carnesky teams up with charismatic performer Rasp Thorne, visual artists from the Insect Circus, illusion designers and circus artists to present Part One of her new spectacular seven-part show. Supported by the Roundhouse Associate Artist Programme.

Slightly Fat Features – Variety in the House Wed 5 – Sat 10 May / Studio Theatre / £8-£10 A unique ensemble vaudeville show, packed full of heart-stopping stunts and classic comedy, featuring live music, circus tricksters, top turns and, most importantly, lots and lots of laughs.

Talks & Symposiums Studio Theatre / £5-£10 / see listings for full schedule and dates Watch and debate sideshows and human oddities when Central School of Speech and Drama present Kleinkunst 3: The Sideshow. Spend An Evening with Gerry Cottle and hear about his amazing circus life. Marvel at images and footage from the National Fairground Archive in Professor Vanessa’s Peculiar Entertainments. And take part in Memoirs of a Showwoman, a symposium with the women who perform death defying feats and create spectacular shows

Films Studio Theatre / £3-£7 / see listings for full schedule and dates The Roundhouse joins forces with BFI Southbank to present an international selection of classic, rare and contemporary films each of which tell fascinating stories about the characters and culture of circus. From Tod Browning’s seminal horror film Freaks to James Marsh’s stunning documentary Man on Wire, the films offer an evocation of aspects of circus life. Plus The Unknown, Something Wicked This Way Comes, I Clowns, La Strada, Funny Bones, Dumbo and Wings of Desire. Each screening will be introduced by writers, directors, performers and others who’ve been inspired by circus as an artform and its portrayal on film.

Exhibitions Wed 7 April – Sun 16 May / Roundhouse Café & Torquil’s Bar / free Three free exhibitions will be open all day, throughout CircusFest. Photographs and video installations by Matilda Temperley; Joel Gethwin Lewis and Peter Hellicar, interactive designers and artists who will be connecting visual arts with circus performers led by digital arts organisation, onedotzero; and an exhibition of material from the National Fairground Archive, the UK’s leading archive for the fairground, circus and amusement industries.

Involving young people As part of the Roundhouse’s year-round programme of work with and by young people, there will be circus-related workshops during CircusFest. The Roundhouse Circus Company will be performing in the Main Space; and young people will also be involved behind-the-scenes in technical departments, live internet broadcast of events and special features on Roundhouse Radio. For more information about our work with young people visit www.roundhouse.org.uk/studios. For more information about live streaming and broadcasting of CircusFest visit www.roundhouse.org.uk

PRESS ENQUIRIES Peter Leone or Robert James at Arthur Leone PR T 020 7637 2994 E [email protected]

LISTINGS Venue Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8EH Performances 7 April – 16 May 2010 Box Office 0844 482 8008 / www.roundhouse.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Roundhouse The Roundhouse is one of London’s leading performing arts venues and, as a charity, it helps thousands of young people every year.

Following an extensive refurbishment in 2006, more than half a million people have been to music, theatre, dance and circus events, and 15,000 11–25 year olds have developed their talents in the Studios. The Roundhouse delivers creative projects for many of London’s young people from all backgrounds including radio (with a dedicated radio station run by and for young people), music production, drama, poetry, TV, sound engineering, photography, VJ skills and much more.

Roundhouse funders The Roundhouse receives funding from Arts Council England and Camden Council

Roundhouse CircusFest 2010 funders Paul Hamlyn Foundation, XL and PRG

Media partner Time Out

DATE TIME PERFORMANCE LOCATION APRIL W 7 8pm Trash City preview Main Space Th 8 8pm Trash City press night Main Space F 9 8pm Trash City Main Space Sa 10 8pm Trash City Main Space W 14 8pm Sugar Beast Circus Studio Theatre Th 15 8pm Sugar Beast Circus Studio Theatre F 16 8pm Sugar Beast Circus Studio Theatre Sa 17 7.30pm Compagnie XY preview Main Space 8pm Sugar Beast Circus Studio Theatre Su 18 7.30pm Compagnie XY Main Space M 19 7.30pm Compagnie XY press night Main Space Tu 20 6.30pm Kleinkunst 3: The Sideshow Studio Theatre W 21 7.30pm Compagnie XY Main Space 8pm Marisa Carnesky Dorfman Hub Th 22 7.30pm Compagnie XY Main Space 8pm Marisa Carnesky Dorfman Hub F 23 7.30pm Compagnie XY Main Space 8pm Marisa Carnesky Dorfman Hub Sa 24 7.30pm Compagnie XY Main Space 8pm Marisa Carnesky Dorfman Hub Tu 27 8pm An Evening with Gerry Cottle Studio Theatre W 28 8pm Professor Vanessa's Peculiar Entertainments Studio Theatre Th 29 8pm Man on Wire (film) Studio Theatre F 30 8pm Freaks and The Unknown (film) Studio Theatre MAY Mo 3 8pm Something Wicked This Way Comes (film) Studio Theatre Tu 4 10am Memoirs of a Showwoman Studio Theatre W 5 7pm Slightly Fat Features Studio Theatre Th 6 7pm Slightly Fat Features Studio Theatre 7.30pm RH Circus Company / Circolombia preview Main Space F 7 7.30pm RH Circus Company / Circolombia press night Main Space 7pm Slightly Fat Features Studio Theatre Sa 8 7.30pm RH Circus Company / Circolombia Main Space 2.30pm & Slightly Fat Features Studio Theatre 7pm Su 9 7.30pm RH Circus Company / Circolombia Main Space 8pm I Clowns & La Strada (film) Studio Theatre M 10 8pm Funny Bones (film) Studio Theatre Th 13 8pm Acrobat preview Main Space F 14 8pm Acrobat press night Main Space Sa 15 8pm Acrobat Main Space Su 16 10am & 2pm Dumbo (film) Studio Theatre 8pm Acrobat Main Space 8pm Wings of Desire (film) Studio Theatre Exhibitions 7 Apr-16 May all day Matilda Temperley Roundhouse Café 7 Apr-16 May all day onedotzero Roundhouse Café 7 Apr-16 May all day National Fairground Archive Torquil's Bar