EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Ellie Dubois

Tell us a bit about No Show.

No Show is contemporary circus and theatre hybrid featuring five astonishing and highly skilled female circus performers. Genuinely strong women. There will be breath-taking acrobatic feats, the rarely seen discipline of hair-hanging, brilliant Cyr Wheel, personal confessions, some sly humour and genuinely joyous moments. It's a show suitable for family audiences as well as anyone interested in contemporary theatre and looking to see British circus take a new direction.

What was the inspiration behind the piece?

I wanted to make a show that explores the expectations that we have both when we go to the circus and in particular our stereotypical view about female circus performers. The real strength of female circus performers that too often is behind the spangles. I trained as an aerialist at the National Centre for Circus Arts and I know first-hand how painful it can be to perform in the circus. I was interested in looking at the pursuit of perfection and the inevitable failure that goes along side that.

Normally when we go to the circus the performers are almost super human in their abilities so that they feel far away and untouchable to the audience. They are almost like gods and goddess. I wanted to make a show that allows the audience to gasp at the feats but also to see what it costs a circus performer to perform to such a high standard. The pain behind perfection. And the hidden bruises of the mind and body.

What sets it apart from other circus shows at the festival?

It is performed by 5 brilliantly talentEd Strong female circus performers. I don't think that there is any other circus show on the fringe with an all-female cast. It is honest. You will come and see amazing tricks and be wowed like any circus show but it also has lots of layers that should leave you with plenty to think about and maybe reassess circus as a medium for metaphor.

What have you been up to since your last appearance at the Fringe?

I have been touring Ringside (the one on one circus show I bought to the fringe in 2015) all across the UK and this Autumn the show has its first international dates at some European circus festivals. I have also made a new show called Bird Bones about fear, risk growing up and dying which is performed by an adult and two children which is touring across Scotland. I'm also collaborating on a circus show for babies.

I've also had a baby who is now 18 months old and moved to a tiny village on the West Coast of Scotland.

Are there any other shows you're hoping to catch in Edinburgh?

I'm excited to see some baby shows with my wee one such Snigel and Friends by Caroline Bowditch.

I am also very excited about DollyWould by Sh!t Theatre because they are always thought-provoking and funny, and who wouldn't want to see a show about Dolly Parton, and Wild Bore at the Trav by Zoe Coombs Marr, UrsulA Martinez and Adrienne Truscott which sounds subversive and twisted.

Timings and ticket information for No Show are available on the edfringe website.

Photo credit: Chris Reynolds

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