Part of our Development Programme Fund, The Jerwood Circus Residencies concentrate on three objectives: expanding the creative practice of artists and companies; advancing the art form of circus; and producing work that will attract and develop audiences for circus. In order to achieve these goals, the programme will focus on the research and development of circus artists and companies within the first 10 years of their careers. The residencies offer each artist a bursary, rehearsal space, access to training sessions, technical support and mentoring from NCCA staff.
David Sanchez – The Plastic Took Over
David is one half of emerging circus company Two Much Circus. Together with co-founder Maggie Bernay, he is developing a humorous piece entitled Get Ready which explores early morning routines through object manipulation, physical theatre and movement.
David will be undertaking early-stage research & development for a solo piece with the working titleThe Plastic Took Over. The piece seeks to humorously critique the very serious ecological issue of plastic waste, chronicling a man who finds himself in a plastic dessert of a surreal post-apocalyptic world.
Eleni Edipidi – AUDITION
Eleni is co-founder of Levantes Dance Theatre, a multi-disciplinary company which seeks to create performances which are bold, bright and beautiful, inclusive and exploratory, scalable and commercial, with an original style that focuses on striking visuals, engaging characters and athletic movement.
Eleni will be using the residency for the mid-stage research & development of a new ensemble show (working title AUDITION) incorporating aerial circus, acrobalance, dance and dark humour to explore society’s morbid fascination for True Crime stories.
Fiona Salisbury – Wire-Walker
Fiona is a multidisciplinary artist passionate about the research and translation of balancing technique into various mediums, including physical comedy, visual arts and participation.
Fiona is developing her tightwire and physical comedy show: Wire-Walker, building off her previous show Making Molasses. Her work aims to joyfully disrupt the superhuman narratives within circus, focusing instead on using imbalance and failure as tools for choreography and comedy. The residency will enable her to explore the meeting point between her research into balancing technique and tightwire movement and its relatability and relevance to audiences new to contemporary circus.
Jean-Daniel Broussé – Le (PAIN)
JD graduated from the National Centre for Circus Arts in 2013 with a specialism in Icarian games. Since then, he has become best known as a hand-to-hand base with flyer Nikki Rummer. Together they have performed in numerous ensemble productions, including with Barely Methodical Troupe, Square Peg, FOCA and Ellie Dubois.
JD has been awarded a Jerwood Circus Residency to undertake early-stage choreographic and dramaturgical research & development for his debut solo creation Le (PAIN) (working title). Le (PAIN) is intended to tell JD’s story of growing up queer as the son and heir of a baker in the south of France, featuring acrobatics, dance, clowning…and bread!
Joana Dias – 89
Joana is a Portuguese aerialist, singer and dancer who graduated from the National Centre for Circus Arts in 2014, specialising in aerial hoop. She has performed extensively on the London cabaret and corporate scene, as well as on international engagements with Battle Royal and Mimbre, and as a cast member on Upswing’s Bedtime Stories. 89 will be Joana’s first own creation.
Through the telling of her own story, Joana hopes to illuminate the distance between memory and truth and the impact of trauma on memory, and to reflect on matters of race and colonial history.
Jerwood Circus Residencies, Artist Profiles
