Michael Mills samples a morning of circus skills at NoFit State’s Introduction To Circus.
NoFit State have been producing contemporary circus shows since 1986. By “contemporary”, they mean less of the tigers and elephants, and more of the high wire and gymnastics. Still the occasional clown though. Gotta love a clown. In addition to staging shows all around the UK, they run a busy community circus programme from their base on Cardiff’s St John Street.
Introduction to Circus is a half-day programme that allows novices a taster of some of the centre pieces of contemporary circus; tight rope walking, juggling, acrobalance and the flying trapeze. As we warmed up with games of ball toss and Stuck In The Mud, I was put in mind of school PE lessons, but my God I wish my school PE lessons had been as much fun as this.
These were obviously intro level skills, but that was the joy of it. You didn’t have to be massively physically fit or young or even borderline competent to get that rush of joy and pride from achieving some physical feat. OK, so I never made it all the way across the high wire and my “descent” from the trapeze was really more of a plummet, but everyone was there with a laugh and a giggle and a slap on the back for encouragement – and frankly, given my skills, I judge it a success that I didn’t end up dead in a pool of juggling balls.
There was no pressure on anyone to do anything they couldn’t or didn’t want to do, but Trainers Lynn and Adie’s enthusiasm meant that even little geeky me thought nothing of grabbing a trapeze and going for a swing. There’s an intoxicating and driving impatience stirred up within you as each time you fall off the high wire (a mere foot off the ground) you inwardly curse, “Ah, next time, I’ll get it” As one of my fellow attendees put it, “If I had one of these at home, I’d be on it all day ‘til I got it!”
It was a great crowd attending and together they showcased the huge number of reasons this taster of the circus might appeal. Neil had been bought his place as a Christmas present from his girlfriend, Helen; Rhys had decided to come and have a go after his son enjoyed it so much; Will had won a competition by explaining why he really wanted to be a human cannonball (to get to work quicker it turns out); and Terri, well, she just wanted “to do something new”. And you can’t argue with that.
NoFit State’s next Intro Day is scheduled for Sunday 3rd June, but in the meantime there are a whole host of other community circus classes available. Go on, sign up. If nothing else just think of the pub points you’ll score the moment you can wheel out, “Well, speaking for those of us with experience of the flying trapeze…”
For more information on NoFit State’s forthcoming introductory classes and forthcoming Mundo Paralelo performance, consult their website. Info: 029 2022 1330 / www.nofitstate.org