Galway Community Circus is delighted to offer two days of Circus in the Park this year as part of our Mayhem Youth Circus Festival! Circus in the Park will take place in and around our big top tent at Father Burke Park in Galway’s Westend.
Most events are offered free of charge thanks to our funding partners Arts Council Ireland, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Erasmus+, Leargas, Claddagh Credit Union, ISACS and Creative Ireland.
Here is the full two-day lineup:
Mixed Circus Skills Workshops
Saturday 24 May from 2:30-5pmSunday 25 May at 11am-12pm, 12:30-1:30pm, 2:15-3:15pm, 3:45-4:45pmFREE | All ages welcome
Join us for free drop-in workshops in our big top tent and try your hand at some basic circus skills such as juggling, hula hoop and more! All ages and abilities welcome. Participants from the ISACS/Creative Ireland Circus Explored Youth Exchange will assist in running these workshops.
Flea Circus Performance
Saturday, 24 May at 1:30pmFREE | All ages welcome
Aerial Cocoon Taster Workshops
Sunday 25 May11am-12pm, 12:30-1:30pm, 2:15-3:15pm, 3:45-4:45pmFREE | All ages welcome
Ever dreamed of floating in the air? Come try the aerial cocoon on our outdoor aerial rig! This gentle and beautiful circus skill lets you wrap, twist and relax in mid-air.
The free taster aerial cocoon workshops will run in 15-minute increments. Each workshop slot requires a 10-minute warm-up and allows for 15 minutes trying out the cocoon. Sign up for the aerial workshops will be done on-site.
Tape That! – Performances by Hands Down Circus
Sunday, 25 May12-12:30pm and 3:15-3:45pmFREE | All ages welcome
Tape That is a charming, light-hearted, non-verbal acrobatic duet. Two performers construct a visual world using colourful tape, object manipulation and partner acrobatics. Using creative elements of physical theatre, a simple roll of tape transforms from DJ decks to a spyglass, and is stretched to create physical borders which the performers must work together to navigate. Tape That is a playful exploration and re-imagination of the world we live in today; and when challenges present themselves, just how many problems can be fixed with a few rolls of duct tape?
About Hands Down Circus
Hands Down Circus is made up of Carys Nicholls and Graham Milligan. They aspire to create and perform original Circus Theatre using a unique blend of partner acrobatics, physical theatre, and prop manipulation, to invoke an environment of curiosity and absurdity, often using relatable or mundane objects.
Frankie Magilligan’s Comedy Juggling Show
Sunday, 25 May1:30-2:05pm and 4:45-5:20pmFREE | All ages welcome
Tall Paul – best known to many as Frankie Magilligan – began his love affair with Circus last century and is a master of juggling, unicycling, stilt walking, diabolo and beyond – all served up with a generous drizzle of banter and tomfoolery!
Paul has a range of walkabout characters, but Frankie Magiligan will be joining us for the Mayhem Youth Circus Festival! Hailing from the North Antrim Coast, Frankie has packed his lunch box, filled his flask and given his teeth an extra special polish! Don’t miss out on his mesmerising mix of manipulation and equilibristics, (that’s juggling to you and me), the likes of which you’re not likely to see again … unless he survives! Frankie presents a solo show filled with comedy, juggling, music and the worlds only known GOLD giraffe unicycle!
Other Workshops
We are also offering a range of other workshops that cost €5 each and require pre-booking. You can book these workshops at the link below.
Acrobatics workshop with Hands Down CircusSaturday, 24 May 10:30am-12pmFor adults 18+Book here
Hat Juggling with Paul QuateSaturday, 24 May2:30-3:30pm for youth 8-11 years4-5pm for youth 12-17 yearsBook here
Funambulism WorkshopsSaturday, 24 May11am-1pm for youth 12-17 years3-5pm for adults 18+Sunday 25 May10:30am-12pm for adults 18+1-2:30pm for youth 12-17 years