Our Story - Cirque Bijou

Our story is all about people and partnerships.

Billy and Julian (co-Artistic Directors) are circus artists, entrepreneurs and creative directors who met in the 90s in Bristol in a performance collective specialising in fire and pyrotechnic shows.

They could see a gap in the market for an accessible and popular form of modern circus, and formed Cirque Bijou in 1999. They brought in key creatives and brilliant local and national circus artists to help them make shows that told stories and connected with people, whoever the audience was.

The Cirque Bijou network grew and so did the company, building a strong core team of brilliant producers and production managers to support the directors. We work with show teams made up of renowned choreographers, designers, video artists, composers, creative riggers and circus artists of all kinds.

Stories and people are what makes us tick – when we make shows we always bring in people we trust to tell stories that are true to us. We value strong relationships with our clients and creative partners and are very lucky to have a portfolio of repeat clients who we’ve been working with for decades and now call friends.

Alongside storytelling, Cirque Bijou value a pioneering spirit and sky-high production values, enabling us to make work with a unique edge that few can match. We are proudly based in Bristol – a city full of artists and a thriving circus network. We are glad to be members of Outdoor Arts UK, to be award winners at the Festival Supplier Awards, and to have a publicly funded partnership project of over a decade with Diverse City.

Variety is the spice of life!

Meet our team

Julian Bracey

Artistic Director

I was a graffiti artist here in Bristol back in the 80s when the city’s now famous street art scene was just emerging. Like circus, graffiti is an alternative, fast-moving, visual and immediate art form. In the 90s I studied 3D design, something which has a huge bearing on the way I make shows today – I am very design-driven and the immediate visual impact of my work is foremost.

Whilst studying I was introduced to the world of circus. I travelled the world performing a one-man street show. Along the way I was inspired by some great circuses like Cirque Archaos who were producing really avant-garde shows that combined live art, circus and chainsaws… Nothing like that existed in the UK and I started to see that I could make something exciting and different.

And that’s what Billy and I set out to do. In the beginning we were performing, making props, directing shows, loading vans and blowing things up. Since then the company has grown dramatically in terms of scale and aspiration, and the backup of our great team now helps us realise our vision and brings new ideas to the mix.

I love mixing modern technology and styles of movement with circus. Above all, I love the element of surprise that circus affords. I always aim to give the audience a truly unique experience – something extraordinary that they won’t get anywhere else. I want them to feel like they ‘had to be there’.

julian@cirquebijou.co.uk

Billy Alwen

Artistic Director

The best circus crosses so many art forms. It tells stories to people of all ages and backgrounds and it can surprise, shock and make you cry all at once. That is the kind of circus I aspire to make. I enjoy working outside of my comfort zone and being able to push artists into new areas. As a former circus artist, my interests also lie in the detail of the circus skills, and in pushing those skills to new levels.

I’ve had unparalleled experiences creating Cirque Bijou shows – it’s impossible to choose a favourite. Battle for the Winds was a true epic, celebrating London 2012 with 52 shows in 7 UK counties – with thousands of artists and hundreds of thousands of audience members. By contrast, limited resources meant we made the first Extraordinary Bodies show in only 10 days, with an exceptional company of disabled and non-disabled artists. We were using a huge new piece of circus equipment designed especially for the show which was a challenge in the timescale, but the success of that show has now resulted in an international integrated circus project.

The best work I have made has always been collaborative, whether with new artists, musicians, co-directors, choreographers, or with clients and co-producers. It involves putting together the right team, belief in each other’s abilities, and having a collective creative vision to go for something truly ambitious. I’d like to think this is the Cirque Bijou blueprint.

billy@cirquebijou.co.uk

Kate Lanciault

Senior Producer

As Senior Producer I take the lead on some of the biggest Bijou projects. I love being an integral part of creating and organising shows, coming up with ideas for unusual briefs, working closely with artists, crew and clients on the logistics, and seeing all the planning come to life whilst getting my hands dirty onsite.

Happiness is very important to me; it takes happy artists and a happy team to make great shows, and great shows make happy audiences and happy clients. I hope that my energy, enthusiasm, knowledge and passion keeps everyone smiling. The brilliant thing about Cirque Bijou is that every day throws up a new challenge and we all build on our expertise with every job.

kate@cirquebijou.co.uk

Rachel Pender-Cudlip

Company Manager

I joined Cirque Bijou in 2020 as Arts Administrator and am now very happy to be holding the role of Company Manager. Coming from a varied career background in administration, I was always looking to enter the arts sector and so jumped at the opportunity to join the Bijou family.

As Company Manager I work very closely with all the team and try to be the person with all the info! One of my favourite aspects of the role is how varied it is – I manage our marketing and finance, deal with HR and new enquiries and produce shows. It’s busy, and I love it.

I also work as producer for our ground-breaking project Extraordinary Bodies (the UK’s leading integrated professional circus company) in partnership with Diverse City.

rachel@cirquebijou.co.uk

Nic Prior

Production Manager

It is my job to support the artistic elements across our projects, by holistically looking after the nuts and bolts of the creation process. Unsurprisingly I really enjoy logistics and planning. However, the most satisfying aspect of my role is taking an initial idea and helping to realise it.

My interest in the arts started at a very young age and has led me through a wonderful and varied career so far. From large, international, televised events, to a two-hander show in a local school. Each of these have presented their own challenges and rewards and taught me something new. Circus is no different. I love the energy and passion of those working in it. I don’t think I will ever cease to be amazed by artists creating something beautiful and astonishing, with such skill and grace.

nic@cirquebijou.co.uk

Alicia White

Producer

Alicia White

Producer

I provide creative support, through logistics and planning, on Cirque Bijou’s spectacular events and shows. I take care of the fine details and thrive on problem solving, whether I am liaising with clients during pre-production periods or getting stuck in collaborating with artists and crew on site. I value kindness and am committed to the wellbeing of all involved, from the development to the realisation of performance ideas.

Before moving into Producing and Coordinating roles, I specialised as a Show Caller in Theatre Stage Management. I have worked on a wide range of performances spanning mediums such as new writing, physical and devised theatre, immersive site-specific shows, children’s theatre, and outdoor arts spectacles.

I am so happy to be building upon this experience with Team Bijou!

alicia@cirquebijou.co.uk

Stu Freeman

Arts Administrator

As the Arts Administrator I look after all things marketing and social media. So if you have sent us a message recently then the chances are you’re talking to me, hi!

stu@cirquebijou.co.uk

Tom Falding

Freelance Production Manager

Tom has been working with Cirque Bijou for nearly 15 years, in increasingly varied positions of responsibility. He’s an outstanding people person, has unfailing energy and enthusiasm, and is a total asset onsite, driving any number of vehicles and plant machinery and putting up marquees and popups like a true professional.

In 2022 he took on the once-in-a-lifetime role of Producer/Production Manager with us for our work at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, and he is a regular fixture alongside Julian at Paisley Halloween Festival and many private parties and events.

Tom says: “I love being part of the Bijou family – the fun I have on jobs and the proud feeling of accomplishment I get at the end of a show always makes it worth the hard work!”

tomfalding@cirquebijou.co.uk

Amie Thompson

Freelance Bookkeeper

Amie is an AAT Level 3 qualified Freelance Bookkeeper. She works part-time with a variety of independent and creative clients in Bristol and beyond.

Making sure that our books are kept neat, tidy and up to date when things get very busy is Amie’s responsibility. It’s our attention to detail that gives our shows their edge – and every operation in our company requires the same focus. The finances are of course no different.

Simon Langley

Freelance Technical Production Manager

Simon Langley

Freelance Technical Production Manager

We first met Simon around 2015, and quickly took him under our wing as our freelance LED Technician. Over the years with us he has fixed, built and stage managed our Umbrella Project, and provided technical support for numerous other LED projects.

In 2017 he was Technical Manager of our Wheel of Energy in Kazakhstan, and in 2020 he came to Taiwan with us as Technical Stage Manager for our show ‘Balance of the Cosmos’.

He’s always on board for our high-octane Festival of Speed shows, and all the crazy, large-scale ideas we come up with.

Simon says: “Bijou provide me with a platform, and the support needed, to keep pushing the envelope of how technology and performance can be integrated as one – delivering meaningful shows to audiences across the world”