Circus in Place

Variety Performances from circus, dance, puppetry, storytelling, music & theatre. This all ages event brings together community, artists and the land that sustains us in a unique festival of variety performances from circus, dance, puppetry, storytelling, music & theatre. All new acts present on stages around the land and the audience will move through the natural landscape to peek into the artist’s various worlds. The variety artists are given an open-ended instigation of a stage and the natural landscape, so each will bring their own inspiration to the event, offering up an eclectic and fun mix of entertainment.

The welcome will begin with returning singer/songwriter Bryan Blanchette who will also have his own set later in the program. Blanchette is an Abenaki singer/songwriter sharing traditional songs and original music. A Native American Elder once told Blanchette, “You have the voice of a warrior.”

Kevin O’Keefe of Circus Minimus will add story of place by telling a story from atop a 10’ tall stump. O’Keefe’s tale will span 10,000 years of geology and stars a wooly mammoth.

New this year is Cripps Creations consisting of an artistically diverse partnership originating from Asheville, NC. Vida and Madison J. Cripps bring the magic of puppetry to the stage with a circle of life story set in a bizarre terra planet.

Theatrical circus artists Brooke Locke and Rachel Rees will team up to present acrobatic and aerial acts that blend astonishing physical talent with emotionally rich context.

Award winning juggler Tony Duncan will return to tickle the funny bones while juggling with unbelievable dexterity, and Nimble Arts Creative Director Serenity Smith Forchion will return with an expanded dance with the trees.

Forchion received a dance grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts and parlayed the funds into an extended research project for 5 aerial dancers with master arborist Mark Przekurat. Their developing body of work will be shared at Circus in Place.

The event is held on farm and woodlands in Brattleboro at 420 Meadowbrook Road. Audiences are asked to bring their own blankets for socially distanced seating and walking shoes for the woods path between stages. The event will happen rain or shine and the event is out of doors so dress accordingly.

Circus in Place will follow all Vermont COVID protocols for outdoor events. Please maintain social distance, and do not attend if you are feeling unwell in any way.

If you'd like to volunteer to help out in exchange for a free ticket, follow this link to connect with us.

Location: 420 Meadowbrook Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301