Sky-Fi:

A circus and aerial show through time and space

We were thrilled to gain project funding from Arts Council England to co-create Sky-Fi, a circus and aerial show that asked big questions about our universe and inspired audiences of all ages.

Sky-Fi is a circus and aerial performance exploring themes of space, gravity, and our connection to the universe. Featuring a mix of aerial and ground-based circus skills, the show combined movement, storytelling and circus to create a unique experience for audiences.

Sky-Fi was performed by Spotlight, Skylight’s newly formed group of young circus performers aged 12–20 years old. The performers are current members of Skylight’s classes and began working together as Spotlight in January with a passion and drive to push their skills to the next level.

A group of youth circus performers execute a synchronized acrobatic sequence, representing movement and gravity in space

“We left feeling as though we’d been taken on a journey – not to outer space, but to an inner space where we learnt a lesson about what young people can achieve when they’re given a community to form for themselves, with the slightest of outside forces. In this case, it was a force of nature called Creative Expression.”

– James Doyle-Roberts, Citrus Arts (Wales)

Audience Review

“I liked that the concept had been thought about from start to finish, when greeted by the front of house staff they explained to me that my “flight” would be taking off shortly. The magic tricks being performed for the audience whilst waiting for the show to arrive were excellent and performed very well!”

– Laura Rodwell

M6 Theatre Company

Creating Sky-Fi

In January 2025, 14 young people from our circus and aerial classes came together and formed our new cohort of Spotlight. Working together weekly, they explored themes such as vastness, curiosity, fragility, connection, and playfulness to inspire their performances.

As the ideas developed, acrobatic acts emerged, inspired by movements influenced by changes in gravity, while aerial performances reflected the fluidity and changes of time.

Juggling, globe walking, and unicycle acts drew from the continuous orbiting of planets, each movement linking back to the overarching themes.

“Beautifully put together, with a real sense of flow and meaning.”

– Audience Member

Dance and movement became the thread that connected all of these elements, weaving them into a cohesive narrative of questions of space. Mystery unfolded through stilt-walking creatures emerging from the depths of space, embodying the unknown.

The young performers asked questions which echoed throughout the show, inviting the audience to reflect on the vastness of the universe and the connection between all things.

Audience Review

James Doyle-Roberts, Artistic Director – Citrus Arts

“What I watched over the following 60 minutes was a confident & disciplined display of pretty much the whole gamut of circus practise you can achieve without your own touring Big Top tent.

The cast were self-assured and skilled enough to execute the entire show without the help of experienced adults trying to blend into the background while they might take care of complicated and important technical arrangements with serious safety implications if there were to be any mistakes.

The young team did this themselves – moving stage props around between acts is not the same as setting a Trapeze so that your colleague & friend can safely scale it and perform at height. What was truly amazing was that these set changes were done very neatly, efficiently, & safely as part of the performance.”

Performance Gallery

youth aerialist on black silks leaning backwards

youth performer sat on large silver ball with blue and red stage lights

a group of young female circus performers juggling

a youth performer with one arm above head mid dance

young magician performing to audience a magic trick

two youth aerial performers on a aerial hoop

a group of youth circus performers, one boy standing on top of a walking globe

a group of youth performers with their arms above heads in dance

young magician performing to audience a card trick

youth aerialist on grey silks learning backwards

Creative Team

Charma Force – Director
Gil Burns – Associate Director and Creative Design
Martine Bradford – Skylight Circus Arts Creative Director
Steve Broomhead – Music Director
Mick Chapman – Project Manager
Ethan Hogg, Youth Circus Participant – Lighting Tech
Danni Hall – Circus and Aerial Instructor, Performer
Annette Force – Aerial Instructor
Dawn Pierson – Funding and Evaluation
Ian Hodgson – Show Photographer

Special Thanks

Arts Council England

A huge thank you to Arts Council England for their generous support, making Sky-Fi possible. Your funding enabled us to create a unique performance, showcasing our talented young performers and exploring the themes of space through circus arts. We appreciate your continued support in providing opportunities for young artists and enriching our community.

Rochdale Development Agency

Thanks to Rochdale Development Agency for their support through the Rochdale Visitor Attraction and Venues Improvement Scheme. The funding has helped us improve our performance space here at Skylight, including the addition of new stage mats and lighting, which significantly enhanced the overall feel of Sky-Fi performance.

Those who donated

A special thanks to the Glennis Brierley Memorial Fund, as well as to all our audience and public donors. Your contributions have played a key role in making Sky-Fi a reality, helping to enhance our performances and venue. We truly appreciate your support!

Our Volunteers

We would also like to thank the amazing volunteers who supported us on performance days, welcoming the audience, taking donations, assisting performers, and helping everything to run smoothly.

Support Spotlight

To continue providing high-quality training and performance opportunities for Spotlight rely on funding and donations.

Your donation, no matter the size, helps provide training, opportunities, and the resources needed to take their circus skills to the next level.

If you’re unable to donate, sharing our story with others helps spread the incredible work these young performers put into the show and provide further opportunities for them to continue to develop!

Support Us

What’s Next?

If you enjoyed Sky-Fi, keep an eye out for our upcoming performances from Spotlight! Follow Skylight Circus Arts on social media or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on future performances, events and how to get involved!