Ensemble Season 2025 | Programme
The National Centre for Circus Arts presents Ensemble Season 2025.
Under the brilliant direction of Michaela O’Connor and Neus Gil Cortes, our talented BA2 and BA3 students have crafted two unique and captivating Ensemble shows.
Monsters
Directed by Michaela O’Connor
Monsters was inspired by how circus bodies can completely transform to make a character, tell a story or create an atmosphere.
What if we interrogate the “Monsters” that were misjudged or misrepresented by history. Through the lens of a Monster, we can delight in speaking our truth, standing up for what we believe in and throw away the shackles of what society deems appropriate.
Here we explore notions of equality, empowerment and what makes us human.
6 Degrees of Freedom
Cast
Director by Neus Gil Cortes
What if the structures we live in aren’t as fixed as they seem?
What if every constraint holds within it a thread of possibility, waiting to be pulled?
6 Degrees of Freedom invites you to step into a space where movement challenges the immovable. Where cracks in the surface let in light. Where enough small pushes—together—could shift everything.
This show explores resistance, individuality, and the endless human drive to play, to care, and to keep trying. It’s about failure as an act of rebellion and persistence as a spark for change.
Can circus speak to the world we live in? We think so. And we think you’ll feel it too.
Artistic Team
Designer: Reuben Speed
Lighting Designer: Mark Dymock
Sound Designer: Peter Buffery
Producers: Adrian Porter & Joe O’Neill
Production Manager & Company Stage Manager: Sophie Oxenbury
Creative Rigger: Matt Burch
Deputy Stage Manager: Erin Blake
Assistant Stage Manager & Book Cover: Derek Penny
Technical Assistant Stage Manager: Roman Terrazas
Sound Operator: Sunni Jolli
Costume Supervisor: Sanna Javid
Show Technician: Toffy Paulweber
Sound Equipment provided by HaveSound. Lighting Equipment provided by TSL.
Bar snacks provided by Simply Roasted.
A big thank you to the staff and teachers of the National Centre.
Photos Alice UnderwoodÂ
We’ve always been passionate about ensuring our students have high-quality opportunities to perform their work and donations have helped us continue to produce these shows. But, as with many producing theatres in recent times, the cost of delivery has rapidly increased, and it now costs us roughly £100,000 every year to put on our student productions.
Please consider making a donation today and help support this hugely important part of the learning journey.
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