Magical circus experience for babies

15 January 2019

We are delighted to announce our new Spring tour for 2019 – a magical first circus experience for babies and toddlers age 0-18 months and their adults.

At a time in their development when young children are discovering their own physicality and the pleasures and perils of gravity, Little Top invites babies and toddlers to experience spectacular balances, astonishing tumbles and inventive juggling up close.

Inside a specially-designed set that miniturises the magic of Big Top, professional circus acrobats, tumblers and jugglers perform up close in babies’ line of sight, making eye contact, interacting and responding to their young audience.

We are very excited to be working with a hugely talented team on this unique new production. Co-Creators Ellie Dubois and Kim Donohoe of SUPERFAN are bringing together Ellie’s circus expertise and Kim’s experience creating theatre and art experiences for babies and young children. Ellie is an award-winning artist who trained at the National Centre for Circus Arts and whose work is reinventing traditional notions of what circus can be. Kim is a Starcatchers Associate Artist, who has previously performed in Blue Block Studio and Sprog Rock. As Co-directors of SUPERFAN they create new performances that blend theatre, performance art, circus and choreography.

Performers include acrobat Nat Whittingham, former elite gymnast Gabrielle Cook and professional juggler Arron Sparks.

Becky Minto, described as “one of the most prolific theatre designers in Scotland” in the Herald, will create Little Top’s set. Inside, audiences will be transported into a playful, joyous, upside down, topsy-turvy world where people can fly, patterns fill the air and anything is possible.

Rhona Matheson, Chief Executive of Starcatchers, said: “Over the past 12 years Starcatchers has developed a strong reputation for creating beautiful, innovative productions for very young audiences.

“Each performance pushes the boundaries of expectation about what kind of arts experiences babies and young children can benefit from and Little Top is no different.

“It has been developed with the specific needs of this age group in mind, taking into account the huge developmental leaps that children undergo during their first 18 months.

“We’re delighted to be working with SUPERFAN on this very special production and look forward to giving our young audiences their very first circus experience.”

The Spring tour will kick off on 30th April in Cumnock and tour Scotland throughout May 2019. Visit Little Top’s production page here for full booking details.