Step Up is putting young people in control of the creation and production of new and exciting performance for outdoor festivals and events in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The project aims to inspire a new generation of young people to participate in the arts and in particular outdoor performance.

2009 saw the first year of the project get underway with 4 new outdoor performances commissioned, created and shown accross a number of festivals in Bristol. To see a short film of this years project click here.

We were really pleased with this first phase of the project and the impact it had both on the participating young artists and their careers but also on the wider public as they got to see these exciting performances unveiled for the first time.

"Gathering the first audience of people who stayed through out the show felt wonderful. Walking away after that first performance feeling like all the hard work had paid off made me feel very proud!"
                                                 -  Megan Vaughn-Thomas, Participating Artist

Step Up will be running again in 2010 and we will be looking for performers and artists as well as creative producers, technicians, stage managers and film makers to take part. If you are aged 14 - 25 and are interested in getting involved or know of anyone who might be, email mail@cirquebijou.co.uk and we will be in touch next year.

2009

The four pieces that were chosen to receive financial, production and artistic support in 2009 were::

It’s Still Life - Collette Cook (17), Esther Verlaque (17), Daniel North (19) and Ryan Cook (15). With a vision to create a completely original, abstract contemporary dance piece about the beauty of nature, in contrast with the destruction that man has brought upon it through warfare with their weapons and violence, this young collective will not only entertain; they will use the power of performance to raise awareness and provoke thought for change. The group aim to highlight the fact that during a war, the beauty of life is disregarded, whether that is the life of nature, or the life of the enemy soldiers.

Photot: Sidzphotography.co.uk

The Walrus and Carpenter Show - Felicia Sinclair (24) and Megan Vaughan Thomas (21). This interactive walkabout duo is based on the Lewis Carroll characters of the walrus and the carpenter whose characters have a comedic relationship with one another and with their audience. With the motive of collecting and consuming some tasty oysters for their tea, the rhyme, song and improvisation with the audience will all refer to the original Lewis Carroll poem.

Photo: www.sidzphotography.co.uk

Parkour narrative - James Dalby (19) and members of Bristol Parkour group.

James intends to create a Parkour performance with a narrative of self preservation that derives from the three principles of Parkour; to reach, to escape, to rescue. Parkour Narrative will prove to bring the Parkour art form that is so often seen as an underground or secretive method of creation into the spotlight to create a greater understanding of its exceptional entertainment  and creativity values.

Photo: www.sidzphotography.co.uk

Railway - Carly Etherington (22) and Katie Monks (21). Railway is a highly physical and inventive dance theatre piece focusing on the lives of two characters that find themselves waiting at a railway station. They explore the absurdities of their own characteristics and push the limits of their friendship through props, dynamics and poetic text.

Photo: Monica Connell

To see pictures of the new performances click here

Other young people were involved in the production of the performances as:creative producers, technicians, stage managers and film-makers. Among them were:

Production - Dan Marks

Technician - Tom Bull

Film-maker - Taran Burns

Performances took place at the following local festivals:

Festival Dates

Sports Jam - Sat 5 Sept 09

The Ampitheatre, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5LL

• Parkour Narrative                    @ 12.45 & 15.00

Youth 4 Youth Festival - Sat 5 Sept 09

Kingswood foundation, 20 Old School House, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 8D                                                                                                          

• It's still Life                              @ 16.40

The Bristol Festival - Fri 18, Sat 19 & Sun 20 Sept 09

The Ampitheatre and Millennium Square, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5LL

• Parkour Narrative                  Sat & Sun @ 14.30, 15.30 & 18.00
• Railway                                  Sun 20 Sept @ 13.00, 15.00 & 17.00
• The Walrus and the Carpenter  Sun 20 Sept @ 13.30, 15.30 & 17.30

New Generation Takeover, Colston Hall - Sat 19 Sept 09

Colston hall, Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR

• Railway                                   @ 12.00, 13.00 & 16.00
• The Walrus and the Carpenter   @ 13.00, 15.00 & 17.00

The Bristol Do - Sat 26 & Sun 27 Sept 09

Portland Square, Bristol, BS2 8SJ                                                                      

• Parkour Narrative                       Sat @ 14.30, 15.45 & 17.00                                                 Sun @ 14.45, 15.30 & 17.00
• It's Still Life                               Sat & Sun, exact times tbc.
• Railway                                     Sat @ 14.00, 14.45, 15.30 & 16.15                                                         Sun @ 14.45, 15.30, 16.15 & 18.30
• The Walrus and the Carpenter     Sat @ 13.15, 14.15, 16.15 &17.30                                                 Sun @ 14.15, 15.15, 16.15 & 17.30

Stapleton Road Street Fair - Sat 3 Oct 09

Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5

.

• Railway                                   exact times tbc.
• The Walrus and the Carpenter   exact times tbc.

For more information about Step Up please email mail@cirquebijou.co.uk or call 0117 902 9730.

 

Step Up is a partnership between Cirque Bijou,

Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council

and is funded by Arts Council England.