We’re celebrating 25 years of Cirque Bijou. Each month we are looking back on some of our favourite projects of the last quarter century.
Cirque Bijou and Camp Bestival
For over 10 years now Cirque Bijou and Camp Bestival have been working together. We started out bringing entertainment to the Isle of Wight for them for Bestival. Now we programme and animate key areas and finale shows at Camp Bestival Dorset and Shropshire.
Cirque Bijou’s Billy Alwen is a long time friend of Pete Bateman. Pete is creator and builder of Caravanserai – the ‘festival within the festival’. We help bring to life this magical world – programming both world-class and emerging artists to animate and entertain the area.
Finale Shows
Over the years Billy has also built up a close working relationship and friendship with Josie da Bank – Camp Bestival’s director and visionary. Together the two have dreamed up the finale shows we have delivered for the festival. These have included a high wire spectacular, audience participation, live music, infectious dance and, of course, some brilliant circus.
These shows have also included the creation of new and exciting props and sets, including a giant flying and glowing heart, a flying piano, and the world’s largest mirror ball.
Working with a range of talented and diverse artists, we have had a lot of fun bringing these shows to life. ‘Sleepwalkers’ involved flying musicians, our LED umbrellas and a lantern dance performed by festival attendees.
Our most recent shows ‘Disco Inferno’ and ‘All You Need Is Love’ have been an explosion of dance, music and circus – captivating the Bestival audience with their magic and sparkle.
New for this year!
It’s always exciting to see and hear what ideas Billy and Jose are working on next. And this year is no exception! Last month Camp Bestival Dorset saw the exciting debut of the new Explorer’s Passport and ‘Navigation Town’ area. We had a brilliant time taking all our Navigators there to interact with the audience and exchange skills and tricks for stamps and stories.
Looking forward to doing it all again at Camp Bestival Shropshire! Tickets still available if you want to come and join the magic.
Photo credit: Leora Bereister, Jamie Baker, Andre Pattenden