Illustrated Talks and Screenings I've given include:
History of Circus, Music Hall, Variety and Vaudeville for the BA(Hons) Circus Degree at The Circus Space 2002 - 2008.
Shoreditch Theatres and Music Halls - illustrated talk and walk commissioned by Shoreditch Festival, 2004
Celluloid Vaudeville - Sensational speciality acts from the birth of cinema - screening for the London International Workshop Festival 2003, repeated by popular demand 2004
10 Decades of Variety in 20 minutes - film screening for the London International Mime Festival 2005
An Introduction to Music Hall, Variety and Vaudeville and the Speciality Acts that performed - invited speaker for Moisture Festival, Seattle's Comedy and Variety Festival, USA, 2006
Early to Mid 20thC Aerial Acts - screening for delegates at the European Federation of Circus Schools (FEDEC) teacher exchange on swinging trapeze, 2007
A History of Contemporary Circus in the UK - Key Note Speech for Circus Futures at Bristol Old Vic Theatre 2006, and Circus Front season at London's Roundhouse 2007.
Tumbling Talk - A Celebration of Acrobatic Performance for Circus Front season at London's Roundhouse 2007
An Illustrated History of Contemporary Circus - Talk and screening for the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, the National Theatre of Ireland 2008
BIOGRAPHY
I decided to become a professional juggler in 1981 having seen the Flying Karamazov Brothers at the interval of a Grateful Dead concert at London's Rainbow Theatre, and learnt to juggle and perform at informal workshops, the Desmond Jones School of Mime and in Covent Garden Piazza. As a professional juggler I worked around the world in alternative comedy venues, theatres, circus, theme parks, and the street - predominantly as half of The Long and The Short of It juggling duo.
In 1989 I assisted in the development of London's Circus Space, a key driving force behind circus as a performing art across education, professional development and production. - I have worked there since 1991 and am the Programme Director and Deputy Chief Executive.
I established, with East Berkshire College, the two-year BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts, Circus - the first circus course in Britain to form part of the mainstream educational system, and worked with the Central School of Speech and Drama to establish the BA (Hons) Theatre Practice - Contemporary Circus degree, which started in Autumn 1999. I was also involved in the training scheme run by The Circus Space for 100 aerialists to perform in the Millennium Show in the Dome throughout 2000. The Circus Space is now a member of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama.
I am concentrating on The Circus Space's role in supporting artists and creating shows - having programmed and produced The Circus Space Cabaret for many years which has featured regularly in the London International Mime Festival.
My books include the instructional book 'Juggling' and 'Strange Feats and Clever Turns' about acrobats, aerialists and other speciality acts at the turn of the 20th Century.