CORNISH social circus charity Cirque du Ciel’s has a new performance space and new name — ‘Cirk Hes’.

For more than 20 years the Penzance-based charity has been putting Cornwall on the map for community circus.

The new name ‘Cirk Hes’ is Cornish for ‘Shoal Circus’ and aims to bring people together in the beautiful coastal county of Cornwall.  

The new circus space will be community focused while also linking into the UK’s circus arts industry. It will offer exciting resources and high flying, circus skills for the local community, and all manners of creative production and specialist skills. 

Charity manager, Naomi Lewis, said “We’re so excited to move into a new better and more central centre for community circus. It’s not only going to be an incredible resource for the local community, it’s going to be up there with the best training spaces in the UK. Plus we’ll provide great support to local creatives and the creative industries.’ 

“You won’t have to go to Bristol, London or abroad to learn these skills anymore. We’ll bring UK wide professionals to Cornwall too to develop unique new performances.”

The charity started in Penzance more than 20 years ago, running community projects across Cornwall to share the joy of circus skills. It has helped bring communities together and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. The charity still runs outreach projects and regular sessions at the Acorn Theatre in Penzance.

Since coming under new management the charity has gone from strength to strength over the last five years. Based at the Circus Works Devoran, it brought together a talented youth circus to tour performances to the likes of Glastonbury Festival. It also built up key services to the community during times of need, with free activities for children on low incomes and focused projects working with children and adults with disabilities.    

The Cirk Hes space is now open and running regular classes and club. To find out more about what is on offer visit their website www.cirkhes.co.uk or follow the story online on @cirkhes social media channels as they continue to develop the new circus space in Helston Business Park.