Inspired by Portobello’s history of travelling circus shows, In the Round is a playful spectacle and community gathering that invites spectators to become participants in a series of choreographed performances along Portobello beach. Conceived by Emily Nicholl in collaboration with Gabbie Cook, Lauren Jamieson, Matthew Wright, Saya Yamaguchi, the project celebrates the area’s rich heritage of circus history while also offering vital shared practices of support and solidarity.
Emily has been particularly inspired by Thomas Ord’s travelling circus of the early 1800s: every year, Ord would return to the same circle, marked out in the grass to delineate the performance space. It is said that, even 20 years after Ord’s circus made its final visit to Portobello in 1859, this circle remained visible on the ground.
About
Emily Nicholl (she/her) is an Edinburgh-born crop multi-disciplinary arts worker, interested in the overlapping roles of artist, neighbour, citizen and friend. She has worked internationally on award-winning projects for all ages, her performance collaborations and visual art work often drawing from what circus arts can teach us about interconnection, solidarity and sharing weight.
Gabbie Cook is a dance and circus artist specialised in contemporary dance, acrobatics and Chinese pole; working as a performer, teacher and movement director. She has toured work nationally and internationally for theatre audiences, street theatre festivals and under the circus big top at Glastonbury and Shambala Festival.
Lauren Jamieson (she/her) is a Scottish aerialist and acrobat who has been performing and teaching since 2009. She loves exploring movement language within circus and specialises in acrobatic basing, straps and corde lisse.
Matthew Wright is a saxophonist, creative producer, science communicator and community organiser. He performs with the improvisation-led band S!nk and is a founding director of the Pianodrome, the world’s first amphitheatre made entirely from pianos. He is excited by the potential that improvisation has for creating something beautiful in every moment.
Saya Yamaguchi (she/her) is an Edinburgh based aerial dancer, hair hanger and acrobat. She has created works for a variety of international and nationwide projects and is a regular teacher and performer for All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre. Saya loves challenging gravity, flying, dancing, draping, dangling and getting tangled.