Summer 2019Skylight Circus Arts

By Steve Griffiths

A 250-year-old art form is being practiced in Rochdale and not many people know about it. Apart from the former Beatle, John Lennon, who wrote a song called ’For the benefit of Mr Kite‘.

Lennon saw a poster from 1843 in a secondhand shop advertising Mr Kite’s performance in the show of the great Pablo Fanque at Rochdale’s Town Meadows and now Skylight Circus Arts keeps up the tradition from their well-equipped circus school and studio theatre in St Chad’s Fold, with training in circus skills and performances of the art of circus.

Founded almost 30 years ago, Skylight preserves the traditions and skills which circus promotes and combines them with other art forms such as dance and drama, to create new circus theatre. From walking on high wires, to performing on the trapeze, silks or cocoons and all skills in between, Skylight will develop people who want to run away to the circus, or just enjoy testing themselves and developing their confidence.

Their team of experienced trainer/performers can offer young people, disabled people and the silver haired the opportunity to grow and perform in a safe environment.

This is ‘social circus’ where the benefits to health and well-being are as important as the creativity.

The Creative Director, Martine Bradford, says they work with a wide range of people because many want to develop their abilities.

Martine said: “It is amazing how people respond to the chance to do something that they never thought they could. They get so much confidence from the circus skills they can learn.”

Children in Need, Short Breaks, Henry Smith and the Postcode Lottery fund projects with special schools and for young people with a variety of special needs and disabilities Besides the performances they put on in Rochdale they have worked with international circus organisations and in other Greater Manchester venues such as the Lowry.

As Martine says, they have a long tradition of showing that circus is a genuine art as well as great exercise. Generations, a moving and highly-skilled collaboration between Skylight’s older Youth Circus and the Silver Circus (over 55s) was awarded ‘Cultural Event of the Year’ 2018 at the Culture and Sports Award Ceremony in Middleton Arena.

The youth or adult aerial classes helps people to learn and develop skills on all forms of rope, silks and trapeze.

You can start as a complete beginner and in a very short time you are dangling up there striking a pose. And all in a safe, supportive environment.

So, if you want to get your child ready for a circus career, develop your own ability to walk over people’s heads on a high wire or simply want to be more flexible then Skylight Circus Arts is the place for you - and it is based in Rochdale.

www.skylightcircusarts.com