Gallery
Now or Never
Greenhead Park, Huddersfield
Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 June
A collaboration with young musicians from Musica Kirklees Brass Band, Huddersfield
Presented by Crying Out Loud in in partnership with the Lawrence Batley Theatre and Creative Scene as part of Circus250, the nationwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of modern circus
On Monday 18 June, eleven acrobat-musicians from the celebrated French contemporary circus company Circa Tsuica will arrive in Huddersfield’s Greenhead Park to get ready for the UK premiere of their latest show Now or Never, a collaboration with Musica Kirklees Brass Band, Huddersfield.
Now or Never is presented in partnership with the Lawrence Batley Theatre and it will be the first time the venue has ever programmed work in Greenhead Park. Passers-by can watch as Circa Tuica set up their red and white Big Top there then build their circus village around it, reinventing circus traditions for the 21st century as they start getting ready for the show.
When the tent opens on Thursday 21 June, the audience is invited in for Now or Never, an exhilarating fusion of stunning acrobatics and funky brass rhythms, where acrobats, musicians and audiences all play their part. As the party begins, the performers mingle with the crowd, making and sharing Breton crêpes, before they launch into a feast of music and circus.
The acrobat-musicians fly, fling and swing across the tent on trapezes, tightropes, Cyr wheels, trick bicycles, trampolines and seesaws. All the while, they play their thundering brass rhythms accompanied by young musicians from Musica Kirklees Brass Band, Huddersfield.
The band’s leader Gavin Brown said: “The team of staff and pupils at Musica Youth Brass is really excited to be working alongside Circa Tsuica this year. Not only is it an opportunity to work with talented musicians but they are also amazing performers who are breaking the mould of how instrumental music should be performed. We cannot wait to get into the big top and join in.”
Rachel Clare, artistic director of producers Crying Out Loud, said: “We are excited to bring you a new circus experience to celebrate Circus250, a special circus anniversary. Combining the joy of French musical-circus with English Brass bands,Now or Never is going to be a memorable event, a chance to experience the best taste of culture from both sides of the channel.”
The tour of Now or Never is supported by Ambition for Excellence using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
