“There’s something radical about seeing people reclaim play, performance and visibility later in life,” says those behind an over-50s circus showcase
Roll up, roll up: this weekend sees the return of Generation Circus’ Over 50s Circus Showcase, a joyful challenge to the idea that play, performance and risk-taking belong only to the young.
Held on Sunday, 14 June in Hertfordshire, UK, the show — ‘A Rebellion Against Ageism’ — will bring together circus artists ranging in age from 50 all the way up to 96. Trapeze, hula hoop, juggling, clowning and dance are all on the bill.
Each performer is a weekly attendee at Generation Circus’ circus skills workshops held at Ware Drill Hall, learning new skills from juggling to trapeze. Classes are completely free and funded by the The National Lottery Community Fund.
Pink-haired Carol (main picture), who performs trapeze, dance, and hoop, said that her world “came crashing down” after the death of her daughter four years ago. “Circus gave me a way to reconnect with the world, it’s given me a purpose and brought a little bit of sparkle back into my life. Performing is my escape from the reality of life’s hard knocks, my happy place.”
Several performers are returning from last year’s show, ‘Will You Still Love Me?’, which drew sell-out audiences of 500.
Carol now also performs burlesque as her alter ego Talula Demure. She added: “I say be a kid at heart because the older you get the more you can get away with.”
Emma Taylor launched Generation Circus in collaboration with her daughter, Maisy. The pair have an extensive background in contemporary and social circus. Back in the 1990s, Emma and husband Dave had a doubles trapeze act – with Maisy always taking part in the show, even at just age four.
“Maisy, Dave and I have been a circus family for three decades — and building Generation Circus together has been the most rewarding adventure of all,” said Emma.
Dave now also works tirelessly behind the scenes on Generation Circus, sorting out everything “from welding rigging plates to mending fairy lights to fixing the wheels on our stage chair”.
Another of last year’s performers, Alison, said: “Emma has created a wonderfully nurturing, safe space where we can come as we are and feel accepted. There’s no too big, too much, too weird here!”
The portraits featured here, taken by Andy Holloway, carry the same spirit: older adults seen not as frail or fading, but theatrical, funny, visible and fully in the frame. As Generation Circus founder Emma Taylor puts it: “there’s something radical about seeing people reclaim play, performance and visibility later in life.”
Bob (above), a clown and dancer, said: “I’m not a performer, I’m not comfortable being on stage … or so I have thought all my life. Circus has made me think about who I am. And it turns out I AM a performer!”
“The encouragement of the group has brought out something I never imagined was in me,” added Bob.
Photography by Andy Holloway
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