Circus Theatre Exchange

The New Vic and contemporary circus company Upswing explore the extraordinary possibilities of combining circus and theatre with the Circus Theatre Exchange – an ambitious, ongoing creative collaboration pushing the boundaries of both artforms.

Building on a creative relationship that began in 2009 on a production of Bryony Lavery’s The Wicked Lady, the New Vic and Upswing’s annual programme of bold productions, participatory activity and professional development explores new ways of telling stories, combining the artforms of circus and theatre in innovative ways and connecting audiences, communities and artists through shared creativity and experimentation.

Newcastle-under-Lyme is the birthplace of Philip Astley, widely recognised as the father of the modern circus. Inspired by this remarkable heritage, the New Vic and Upswing are bringing circus home while looking firmly to the future, exploring how contemporary circus and theatre can work together to transform the theatrical experience.

The programme so far:

The Circus Theatre Exchange has brought audiences a diverse range of work, including Circus Flavours, a free outdoor circus event celebrating the skills and creativity of circus artists; Astley’s Astounding Adventures, a spectacular production exploring the life of Philip Astley; and circus skills summer schools giving young people the chance to try partner acro, solo acro, mini trampoline and more.

The collaboration has also brought circus into ambitious theatrical adaptations, from The Princess and the Pea, a co-production with Unicorn Theatre that toured to New York in 2024, to The Company of Wolves, a new adaptation of Angela Carter’s seminal novella featuring Chinese pole work and foley, and The Little Mermaid, with aerial sequences that saw mermaids soaring high above the New Vic’s in-the-round stage.

Coming up:

In 2026/2027, the Circus Theatre Exchange continues with Circus Explorers, bringing performances and Stay and Play sessions for children and their adults to libraries across Staffordshire, and The Borrowers, the New Vic’s festive production of Mary Norton’s classic family adventure combining aerial sequences with the theatre’s distinctive in-the-round staging.

Through performances, participation and opportunities to develop new skills, the Circus Theatre Exchange opens up access to creative experiences for people of all ages, including young people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to take part.

The Circus Theatre Exchange is supported through Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funding