Circus and Storytelling
Creating spaces to share stories both ancient and new; in circles of women
When I was younger I always wanted to be a fairy. On walks through the forest I was sure I could see them flitting between holes in trees and the folds in petals, leaving glowing trails in the air. Perhaps my passion for aerial circus is an extension of this dream. I have been training in aerial since my late teens and as I developed my craft, I began to see the potential of circus for telling stories and expressing inner worlds. Myself and Tara Kearney are moving towards this with our latest project.
At the close of summer Tara Kearnery, Amelia Wornell and myself headed into Epping Forest armed with aerial silks, rigging equipment, cameras and a tripod that struggled to function on the uneven forest ground. Here we shot our short film Spéirbhean [women of the sky]. We climbed an oak tree to rig our silks and sporadically sheltered under the thicket when the rain began to fall. The film is a moody outpouring of aesthetic image and sound, created by RubyK and Jordan Hall. This work serves as a trailer for the theatre piece Tara and myself have been developing, that explores women in Celtic mythology. We are creating work that recentres women within the indigenous stories of this land.
We screened the film at theIrish Cultural Centrealongside an intergenerational storytelling workshop for women and non-binary people. I sat waiting for the event, assuring myself a couple of my friends would come, we wouldn’t have no one, but as women of all ages trickled into the room I felt the embers glowing, this would be a special space. Tara Kearney, Abi Brown and I took the group through creative exercises. We started off slowly, focusing inward as we explored writing characters, places and poetry. As our activities came to a close we opened it up to the floor. Despite people being hesitant at first, one person after another started sharing their ideas. Stories from lives, myths and childhood books were passed around and conversations about resistance and solidarity began to rise. After our time slot finished nobody left the room, the space became a vibrant intergenerational gathering, alive with the magic of the stories we had shared.
Maddy is an aerial circus artist and facilitator based in South East London. Maddy is passionate about telling stories and finding personal expression through the body. Currently working coaching aerial at multiple studios across London and as a facilitator for the National Theatre’s ‘Speak Up’ programme. Maddy performs with AirCraft Circus and is developing a devised contemporary circus show with her company Whimsy.
Words : Maddy Chapman
Photography: Ameila Rosemary Wornell