Meet some of the awesome people who keep Circus Central ticking.
Joe is a North East-based composer/producer, who also also teaches beginners circus groups at Circus Central. His main interests in circus training are handstands, juggling and aerial.
Joe Edwards
Dan is a juggler and street performer. When he's not fixing things around the building, you'll find him teaching children to juggle fire... professionally, of course
Dan Brown
Hannah joined us when she was 19 and never looked back. Now a professional clown, aerialist and producer she often conjures up ideas with Nat for our shows, and directs our ensemble groups and solo artists
Hannah Thompson
Kirsty is a Scottish performer and teacher with a particular interest in trapeze. She loves teaching kids and adults to see their confidence and passion grow.
Kirsty Shand
Mike is secretary of the board and also a teacher of aerial fitness. He has a Comp Sci degree and his motto consists of two parts "enjoying" and "really good at", inserted into the following sentence: You don’t have to be _____ circus as long as you are _____ it
Michael Pike
Joe Hall
Paul Dewhurst
Jane Diamond
Nat is a teacher of circus and stagecraft, particularly manipulation and balance. He is a ringmaster despite being a professional fool. He loves the circus because of its endless challenges and the warm community where being an oddbod is welcomed and celebrated.
Nat White
Gaz is an acrobalance teacher. "I'm an acro base, infrequent flyer and occasional juggler outside of circus and the 9-5 (business analyst), you'll find me in the hills: biking or hiking. Have been known to take the odd photograph."
Gaz Dick
Wilf teaches acrobatics and Five Ring Troupe, as well as handstands and stretch. Wilf grew up with the circus with a mum who teaches and performs. "I was in Troupe and then did the BTEC. Now I perform and teach. I like circus because I love learning physical skills... and there’s a lot of them in circus!"
Wilf Campbell
Jane is an artist and aerialist who teaches aerial to adults and children at CC. She also teaches yoga, acro yoga and Thai massage. If you lie down on the floor for long enough she might stretch your muscles out for you or stand on you - depending on how she’s feeling
Jane Park
Tanya, aka Fiery Little T is a Newcastle based circus performer. "I specialise in hula hooping and fire but I also stilt walk and enjoy aerial. I love circus because it keeps me healthy, happy and pays my bills!"
Tanya Oxbury
Lynn has worked in the field of dance, body work, well-being and aerial dance for many years. She also runs Arts Connect for the Children with Disabilities Team. Lynn teaches aerial dance: "For the last 15 years I’ve spent lots of my time hanging on to aerial kit and supporting others, I seriously love the art of trapeze and aerial dance!"
Lynn Campbell
Ross Taylor
Claire is the education director at Circus Central. When she isn’t spinning fire or spending time upside down and in the air, she is managing and teaching on Circus Central's BTEC programme. Her circus journey began when she was offered the opportunity to dance in the air instead of on the floor, and she’s not looked back!
Claire Harvey
Sarah is the Operations Director at Circus Central, she is also a walkabout stilts performer. "I first tried circus because I love climbing and getting fit, whilst having a lot of fun!"
Sarah Carrie
Freya Averley
Sarah is the Operations Director at Circus Central, she is also a walkabout stilts performer. "I first tried circus because I love climbing and getting fit, whilst having a lot of fun!"
Sarah Carrie
Hannah joined us when she was 19 and never looked back. Now a professional clown, aerialist and producer she often conjures up ideas with Nat for our shows, and directs our ensemble groups and solo artists
Hannah Thompson
Lucy Appleton
Ross Taylor
Claire is the education director at Circus Central. When she isn’t spinning fire or spending time upside down and in the air, she is managing and teaching on Circus Central's BTEC programme. Her circus journey began when she was offered the opportunity to dance in the air instead of on the floor, and she’s not looked back!
Claire Harvey
Ron is Professor of Organisation and Business Ethics at Northumbria University and has also been a local councillor for Low Fell in Gateshead since 1996. Ron teaches and writes about traditional circus. Ron says: "Circus is good for us; it helps physical literacy but also character development. You can see this if you ever go to Youth Troupe on a Saturday morning and look at young people helping, and enjoying helping, even younger people develop as they develop circus skills. The circus fascinates me because it offers so many lessons about how we grow as human beings."
Ron Beadle
Shirley Mills
Paul Dewhurst
Elise is Chair of the Board of Trustees, and when not chasing the ever-elusive handstand she swing dances, sings in a jazz band and runs a small business. Her two children are proud members of the Five Ring Circus youth troupe. Elise is an enthusiastic beginner at everything from aerial and acro to juggling and clowning: "I believe in circus because it is creative and collaborative, physical and playful, and gives everyone a chance to shine in their own way"
Elise Hopper
Nina has a huge amount of passion and determination for both Cultural Events and the Third Sector. Since completing her Masters in Event Management she has undertaken various roles within fundraising, festivals and administration specifically within the cultural sector. Nina's other passion is the performing arts: "Since being young I’ve performed and my first degree was in performing arts. Being involved with Circus Central has allowed me to rediscover a passion for performance, I’ve done a clown course, started spinning poi, taught vocal technique and am now working on a one-woman comedy act!"
Nina Ritson
Mike is secretary of the board and also a teacher of aerial fitness. He has a Comp Sci degree and his motto consists of two parts "enjoying" and "really good at", inserted into the following sentence: You don’t have to be _____ circus as long as you are _____ it
Michael Pike
