Rehearsal space is available every weekend from now to 1^st /2^nd April:

Deb (who directed last year's show) is available at least one day each weekend to help you work on performance skills, and develop or polish your act.

Special workshop sessions have been arranged in Romsey Mill and are open to everyone (whether you want to be part of the show or not). These are:

"Cast your mind back to the Christmas Cabaret and write me a review" Chloë asked me. As I write it this the show seems so far in the past that only a warm fuzzy glow remains where my memories of the show used to be. This must be the sign of a good show.

But as I dig back in my memory details do come back. Chloë and Simon’s acrobalance piece was superb – the best I’ve seen – every trick cleanly executed, but more than that, the story and characterisation were fantastic.

The comperes – Dave and Anton – were fun, their six club pick-up was just as funny as Charlie and Haggis were at Crawley.

Mark manipulated bright glowing things in UV. I loved the disconnected movements of Mark’s costume as his head and limbs moved with that slightly disjointed appearance puppets have.

Music was a big feature. We had those shy but talented Irish Folk musicians who had to tune-up on stage because there was no room back-stage. And the flamenco dancers too. They seemed terribly fierce – there is definitely something intimidating about women stamping their feet at you.

Don’t forget Sam either – the expert flatlander. I think the tricks were even more ambitious than those he tried for our convention show and though some didn’t come off I was still in awe. My bike doesn’t do that – no bike can!

Yup, definitely one of the warmer, fuzzier shows of recent times.

(Including CCC performers Sanjay Joshi, Rob Lister & Mark Tillotson)

The clue is in the title: "Experimental" is often used as a justification for the most heinous of crimes against taste and public decency, and quite rightly so. Consequently, we went to the LEAPS with high expectations of nudity, violence and at least the odd dead sheep or two.

The LEAPS Show is the biannual event offshoot of their weekly gatherings at CB2 on Norfolk St. The CCC involvement came from the search of composer Amber Pierce for jugglers to perform her new music theatre piece, "The Psychological Thumb". This led her to the CCC and a select team of musically inclined jugglers was assembled.

The range of talent on show was impressive. LEAPS clearly aims to be eclectic, imaginative and challenging and succeeds brilliantly on each count. I personally felt seriously challenged by

However, the most surprising moment was the fellow who - somewhat missing the point - walked on stage with a guitar and did nothing more alarming than playing folk music superbly. Shocking, in context.

Somewhere in all that nestled Amber’s piece, aided by CCC and vocally propelled by Emma. Described as "a piece for jugglers and extended vocal", this meant interweaving the uneven beat of rattling clubs with a playful vocal, mixing story telling with pure vocalisation.

And, heck, no, I didn’t really understand it either, but my best guess would be "a visually and verbally abstracted poem peeking through a car wreck of colliding sounds and chaotic rhythms". Probably.

One disappointment, though. Next time I’ll take the dead sheep.

Deadly is a combination of fantastic aerial skills and theatrical ability in an original performance with an enviably high skill level. The piece is based around the Seven Deadly Sins, developing into a complex relationship between the two characters. Impressive performance skills create a dazzling performance of lust, passion and the reality of a failing relationship.

The acting abilities of the performers to convey these emotions to the audience were superb and the aerial skills were a tool to emphasise their feelings. The music and lighting complemented the performance in a unique manner, with the music directly underlining the emotions and moods on the stage.

The show was fantastic and I recommend it to everyone – regardless of whether they enjoy circus performances or not.

13/16^th – 13^th British Juggling Convention, York. £37/£22.50 if you register before March, £45 after. Contact prereg@bjc2k.york.ac.uk  or make your cheque payable to "BJC2K" and send it to 5 Wasdale Grove, Sheraton Park, Stockton on Tees, TS19 0PP.
19^th – Circus Space Try Out Cabaret.
29^th – 5^th Birmingham Convention, 10am - 10pm at Ladywood Art & Leisure Centre, Birmingham. £8/£6.

1^st – 2000 in 2000. The Woodcraft Folk, a national voluntary youth organisation, has invited CCC to partner them in hosting an attempt on the world juggling record at their regional festival. The day is a mix of music, stalls, games, crafts and food on a multi-cultural theme and is great publicity for both organisations. For more information call Gill on 01223 515345. In the mean time put the date in your diary and come and make history!
15^th – Big Day Out, Parker's Piece