The chief executive  of one of Europe’s top circus-theatre schools is urging the public to step up their support for the types of performance which will dictate whether the UK is able to wow the world when the London Olympics 2012, and other high profile events, open or close.

Jan Winter, the CEO of Circomedia, Bristol, made her plea as the school prepares to launch a supporters’ scheme aimed at providing extra financial help for students enrolled on Circomedia’s highly-rated Foundation Degree course in contemporary circus and physical theatre offered in partnership with Bath Spa University.

The £25 a head Friends of Circomedia scheme will get its public launch in June during three shows – ONWARDS, UPWARDS and IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER - featuring acrobatic, balance, clowning, juggling, mask, rope and trapeze work by current first and second year students.

Jan Winter says: “Student funding is tricky for everyone at present but particularly so for young people who want to be performers. Yet the type of skills taught at Circomedia are exactly what Britain will need to rival the spectacles put on, say, by previous Olympics or World Cup hosts. By asking companies and individuals to pledge to Invest £25 a year in nurturing such talent, we’re hoping that fewer students will be forced out of training by lack of money and so get the chance to add a ‘wow’ factor not just to our biggest events but also to festivals, theatres and streets.”

The first audiences to hear about the scheme will be those attending the shows being staged this month and next by first and second years from the school’s foundation degree courses and Circomedia’s BTEC group.

Jan Winter added: “If just a small number of all the people who have ever enjoyed circus-inspired entertainment agree to join the scheme, it will make a major difference to which students can study with us and what they can go on to achieve.”
As well as asking show audiences to join the scheme, sign-ups can be made via the Circomedia website  – www.circomedia.com  - or by contacting Circomedia at the Kingswood Foundation, Britannia Road,  Kingswood, BS15 8DB; email info@circomedia.com or call 0117 947 7288.