This summer leading Welsh circus company NoFit State Circus will release an atmospheric, collaborative film with Zambian company Circus Zambia and female-led Rwandan drumming group Ingoma Nshya. The riveting short film celebrates their unique strengths, explores their daily lives, and challenges the gendered roles of society, all whilst dealing with the difficult realities of a global pandemic.
The 30-minute film documenting their partnership will be premiered on NoFit State’s YouTube account and be shared across all three organisations’ online platforms, in celebration of one of the most ambitious creative collaborations of its kind between Wales and Africa to date. The film works through 4 ‘chapters’, each documenting a part of the journey taken by the partner organisations across twelve months, three countries, two disciplines, a global pandemic, countless video calls, and an often-unstable internet connection.
Circus Zambia are a youthful and vibrant social circus company that equip young people from vulnerable backgrounds in and around the township of Lusaka with circus and life skills, whilst providing vital educational and employment opportunities.
“It’s been an amazing journey. A shared experience throughout the creative process of this film, while facing the global pandemic. A great opportunity for all three organizations to reflect, laugh, show and learn from the exploration. A beautiful way to share our own narratives while challenging the status quo on gender roles.”
Gift Chansa, Artistic Director, Circus Zambia (Zambia)
NoFit State Circus are a leading Welsh contemporary circus company that began more than 30 years ago. They deliver community and participatory projects at home in Wales alongside touring large scale big top shows around the world.
“I am so proud that we were able to continue this collaboration and deliver an amazing project, even if not in the form that any of us had originally imagined. Hopefully one day we will be able to come together to create the live show that we originally intended. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this short film.”
Alison Woods, Executive Director, NoFit State Circus (Wales)
Ingoma Nshya is the first ever female drumming group in Rwanda. Their work pairs the development of the Rwandan women they work with and the traditional drumming culture, while striving to correct persisting gender imbalances.
“Juggling with the drum sticks is as magical as I dreamt it! From now on, our drum sticks will keep flying…”
Odile Gakire Katese, leader of Ingoma Nshya (Rwanda)
The partnership has helped all three organisations to learn more about each other, find new ways of working, and explore other points of view through the creation of this exciting new film. It brings together their shared creative journey, fusing their unique skills and outlooks to create something that challenges assumptions about their performers and their art forms in an ambient and thoughtful short film.
“Drum up a Circus is a wonderful project that brought together three extraordinary performing arts companies from Rwanda, Zambia and Wales, UK as part of the British Council’s new Art new Audiences programme. The commitment of each group to learn from each other to create and share a journey together continued to shine through changing circumstances and enabled a process that challenged perspectives and lifted the spirits. This film documents that story.”
James Tyson, Theatre & Dance Programme Manager, British Council
The Drum up a Circus project has been made possible thanks to funding from The British Council, the Moondance Foundation, Wales Arts International, 11.11.11, Art Ubuhanzi Rwanda, Africa Culture Fund, and the kind support of the Woman Cultural Centre in Rwanda.
Drum up a Circus will premiere on NoFit State’s YouTube account on Friday 20th August at 1pm BST / 2pm CAT.
Follow this link to watch the premiere: https://youtu.be/GjysvxdYK8k
