About our Company: Behind the Masks

 

 

"It is always a great pleasure to watch these two supremely professional artists at work. 

Their meticulous attention to detail in performance, costume and presentation is quite stunning." 

Dave Buxton, Artistic Director of Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts

 

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Circle of Two is an acrobatic theatre company with an aim to revitalise old popular theatre traditions for contemporary family audiences. Drawing inspiration from a wide variety of artistic genres, from classic literary works to the great film-makers of the silent era, they create highly evocative and poetic shows with unique and personal aesthetics. They use circus, puppetry, pantomime and vaudeville formats to tell simple and engaging stories.

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Celia and Ralph graduated in 2001 by the Central School of Speech and Drama and The Circus Space in London with an honours degree in Theatre Practice and Contemporary Circus. Celia completed a MA in Theatre Studies in 2013 at the University of Surrey, where her research on the phenomenological impact of Puppetry and Masks in the theatrical event was awarded with distinction. 

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After their first touring seasons in the UK with Giffords Circus, Circle of Two went touring around Europe, performing in circuses as prestigious as Circus Benneweis in Denmark, Circo Raluy in Spain, Cirque Phenix Junior in France and the permanent circus building in Munich Kronebau. They have been invited to participate in festivals such as Le Festival International du Cirque de Massy in France or the International Festival of Circus Arts of Izhevsk in Russia. 

 

Circle of Two have performed in street theatre, circus and cabaret for more than fifteen years. They have won the Prize of the Public both in circus and theatre festivals. Their work has been broadcast by national television stations worldwide

 

They are also experienced in teaching circus workshops to people of all ages. They have a variety of shows and acts that include a wide range of performing disciplines such as physical theatre, puppetry and circus.

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Amongst many others, credits include:

 

• Les Nuits du Cirque, Villers-la-Ville, Belgium 2018

• Spraoi!, Waterford, Ireland, 2018

• WeiWuYing Children’s Theatre Festival, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2017

• V Festival Internacional de Cir&CO Castilla y León, 2017

• La Mercè, Barcelona, 2016

• Umore Azoka, Leioa, 2016

• Big Day Out, St. Patrick's Festival, Dublin, Ireland, 2015

• Watch This Space Festival, National Theatre London, UK 2015

• Festival Les Affranchis, La Fleche, France 2014

• Spark Children’s Festival, Leicester, UK 2014

• Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes, France 2013  

• Mimos. Périgueux, France. Prix Mim'Off 2012 

• Lakeside International Children's Theatre and Dance Festival, Nottingham, UK 2011 and 2012

• Le Cirque Educatif, France. Trophée Pierre Bertin and Prix du Club du Cirque 2010

• Festival International du Cirque de Massy. France. 2009

• International Festival of Circus Arts, Izhevsk, Russia. Rosgoscirk award 2009