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Circus School Born From Printer Ignites 30-Year Transformation
7 Jun
Summary
- A fire eater founded a circus school over 30 years ago with just a printer.
- The school aimed to create more theatrical circus with stories and characters.
- Alumni describe life-changing transformations in confidence and physical ability.
A visionary fire eater and physical performer initiated a groundbreaking circus school over three decades ago, armed with little more than a printer and a potent ambition.
Founded in 1994 by Bim Mason and Helen Crocker, Circomedia emerged in Kingswood following the closure of Fool Time, one of the UK's inaugural vocational circus training centres.
The institution was conceived to infuse British circus with greater theatricality, emphasizing narrative, imagery, and contemporary dance over traditional short acts.
Circomedia quickly attracted international students, including ex-student Charlotte Mooney, who described her experience as mind-blowing and imagination-capturing.
Students like Mooney underwent significant personal growth, reporting rapid increases in confidence and physical abilities, which she attributes to the intense trust and reliance developed among peers.
The school's impact extended to collaborations with Glastonbury Festival, where its students regularly performed, and it continues to influence the contemporary circus scene.
Director of Education Rod Laver highlighted Mason's pivotal role, describing him as an inspiration and crediting him with shaping Bristol's contemporary circus landscape.
