This August the New Vic Theatre is partnering with award-winning circus company Upswing to bring a series of free circus performances and interactive workshops to Stoke-on-Trent.

Circus Flavours is a high energy experience that offers anyone aged 7+ the chance to live out their dreams of joining the circus. A free event, audience members will first have the chance to take in a breathtaking performance from Upswing’s Associate Artists, before they then get to ‘have a go’ themselves, trying out some new skills in a self-contained, immersive and fun session.

Following on from its appearance at the Six Towns Carnival in July, the interactive showcase will take place at a number of locations in the city throughout August, beginning at The Potteries Centre on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 August, before popping up at Smithfield in Hanley the following weekend (Sat 12 – Sun 13 August). There will be another Circus Flavours event at The Potteries Centre on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 August, before it takes to the streets of Hanley as part of The Big Feast - Appetite’s free arts event that takes place on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 August.

A ‘Taster Day’ offering an open invitation for parents and carers to experience the magic of circus with their children aged 5+, and find out more about the New Vic’s circus partnership with Upswing, will take place at The Potteries Centre on Thursday 17 August. The New Vic and Upswing are also holding a Summer School for care leavers, taking place at the theatre, encouraging participants to explore and develop their circus skills and meet new friends.

Circus Flavours will be the first event as part of the New Vic’s annual programme of work fusing contemporary circus with theatre developed in partnership with Upswing and made possible as part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funding. Further events this year include a new production of the critically-acclaimed Astley’s Astounding Adventures – one of the New Vic’s most successful shows about ‘father of the modern circus’ Philip Astley – on stage at the New Vic from Saturday 23 September to Saturday 21 October.

To sign up to attend Circus Flavours follow the link here.