Fireflies | Light Up Rochdale This Autumn

Fireflies | Light Up Rochdale This Autumn

by | Sep 30, 2025 | News and Updates, Performances & Events, Project Updates

This autumn, Skylight Circus Arts and Culture Co-op are bringing something truly special to Rochdale. Fireflies is your chance to learn the incredible art of fire spinning and then step into the spotlight at the town’s spectacular Ignite Fire Festival this November.

Guided by the mesmerising Travelling Light Circus, participants will take part in a series of exciting workshops. You’ll build skills step by step in a safe and supportive space, before coming together to create a dazzling group performance for Rochdale’s most fiery event, Ignite Fire Festival!

Fireflies is more than just a fire spinning and performance. It’s about trying something new, being creative and finding connection in the community, all while working with incredible professional fire performers!

Whether you’re looking for a new adventure or a way to be part of Rochdale’s thriving cultural scene, this project offers something unforgettable.

Get in touch with Skylight Circus Arts for more information & how to book your place today! 

Key Details

  • FREE
  • Open to over 18 years only
  • Booking essential with limited places available
  • No experience needed, just enthusiasm and energy!
Dates, Times & T&C's

Fireflies Project 2025 Details

We’re so excited that you want to join us for this year’s Fireflies project. 

Over 7 weeks you’ll take part in 8 sessions and 2 fire performances. You’ll be taught by the amazing Travelling Light Circus who will guide you through everything you need to know about the art of fire torch spinning and then together you’ll take those skills to the Ignite Fire Festival to perform as a group.

Important Information

You need to commit to all of the sessions and be available to perform on both performance days.  If you have to miss one session, please let us know in advance as it may affect the performances. It’s best for everyone if the whole group attends every session as we work towards a brilliant fiery performance!

Dates & Times

Activity

Date

Time

Location

Session 1

Monday 6th October 

Session Times

 

7:15pm – 8:45pm

All workshops are held at:

 

Skylight Circus Arts

St Chads Fold

Sparrow Hill

Rochdale

OL16 1QT

Session 2

Monday 13th October 

Session 3

Monday 20th October 

Session 4

Monday 27th October

Session 5

Monday 3rd November 

Session 6

Monday 10th November 

Session 7

Monday 17th November 

Final Rehearsal

Thursday 20th November 

Performance 1

Saturday 22nd November 

tbc – after 5pm

Rochdale Town Centre Square 

Performance 2

Sunday 23rd November 

To join Fireflies, contact Skylight circus arts by completing this form and we’ll get in touch. Alternativly, pop us an email info@skylightcircusarts.com

A huge thank you to Postcode Lottery People

A huge thank you to Postcode Lottery People

by | Aug 13, 2025 | News and Updates, Project Updates

Thank you!

Thanks to the support of players of Postcode Lottery, Skylight Circus has been able to keep developing our weekly circus and aerial classes in the heart of Rochdale.

We’ve expand our youth programmes with Spotlight and bring circus to the elderly in our Silver Circus projects and successfully restart our much loved Sky Hi sessions for children with SEND.

 

“Sky Hi has been incredible for her, she absolutely loves it at Skylight. She gets the sensory output she needs and she can just be herself. Her favourite is the aerial cocoons because she loves being upside down.”

Our sessions have also supported older participants and young people across the borough, helping them build confidence, independence and a sense of belonging.

Participants have developed physical and creative skills, made friends and enjoyed performing in front of audiences, showing just how far they’ve grown.

We are incredibly grateful to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery for making this possible. Your generosity has brought joy, connection and growth to so many people in Rochdale and the impact will continue to be felt in the months and years ahead.

To get involved and experience Skylight Circus for yourself, you could join a class, bring us to your staff team with our team-building workshops for adults or a school workshop for children or young people.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see all the wonderful moments your support has made possible.

Thank You to The Foyle Foundation for Supporting Spotlight

Thank You to The Foyle Foundation for Supporting Spotlight

by | Jul 18, 2025 | News and Updates, Project Updates

We want to say a big thank you to The Foyle Foundation for believing in young people, creativity and circus.

We’re absolutely delighted to share that we’ve received funding from The Foyle Foundation to continue developing Spotlight, our youth circus performance troupe. This support means so much and allows us to build on what we’ve started, giving young people more opportunities to grow, learn and shine.

With this funding we’re bringing in professional artists, performers and people working across the creative industries to share their skills and experiences with our Spotlight group. They’re helping our young performers build their circus and aerial skills, explore their creativity and gain a better understanding of how to pursue a career in the arts.

This funding means Spotlight can train weekly and we’ve been supporting our young Spotlight volunteers as they teach and perform at local events. We also had the fantastic opportunity to take Spotlight to the Lowry to see Upswing, a visiting professional circus company. As part of that experience Upswing came to Skylight and ran a brilliant workshop for the group. Opportunities like this simply wouldn’t be possible without the support of The Foyle Foundation.

Looking ahead, we’re planning a full programme for late summer and autumn, with workshops, training, creative projects and performances.

A heartfelt thank you to The Foyle Foundation for believing in the next generation of circus artists. Your support is helping us nurture young talent and create meaningful pathways into the creative world.

Keep an eye out for what’s coming next, we’ve got lots in the pipeline and we can’t wait to share it with you

Upswing Workshop June 2025

Sky Hi Inclusive Circus Returns Thanks to The True Colours Trust

Sky Hi Inclusive Circus Returns Thanks to The True Colours Trust

by | Jul 11, 2025 | News and Updates, Project Updates

“Sky Hi is about celebrating every child’s strengths and creating a space where they can shine.”

We’re very pleased to share that we’ve received funding from The True Colours Trust to bring back our much-loved Sky Hi sessions to Skylight Circus Arts.

This funding means we can once again offer regular circus classes for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs, creating a safe and welcoming space where everyone can explore circus in a way that works for them.

Our Sky Hi sessions are all about building confidence, encouraging movement and having fun through circus skills in an inclusive and supportive environment.

From balancing on a tight wire to swinging through the air, participants are encouraged to try new things at their own pace, supported by experienced and friendly circus tutors.

Martine Bradford, Creative Director at Skylight, shared:

“We’re beyond thrilled to say that Sky Hi is back! At Skylight, we’re passionate about supporting people to experience the magical world of circus arts.

Whether they want to try balancing on a tight wire or swinging through the air, we find ways to support each young person and this funding has meant we’re able to offer that again. 

We’re excited to welcome familiar faces and meet new ones as Sky Hi returns to Skylight this summer. 

Join Sky Hi Circus

For 7 - 14 years

If you or someone you know has a child with a  disability or SEND and would like to find our more about our Sky Hi Circus sessions,  get in touch we’d love to hear from you.

Find out moreSign Up

Join Sky Hi Circus

For 7 - 14 years

If you or someone you know has a child with a  disability or SEND and would like to find our more about our Sky Hi Circus sessions,  get in touch we’d love to hear from you.

Find out moreEnquiry form

A huge thank you to The True Colours Trust for helping us continue to create the much needed, much loved and inclusive world of Sky Hi Circus!

Spotlight’s Journey Continues with Hays Travel Foundation Support

Spotlight’s Journey Continues with Hays Travel Foundation Support

by | Jul 11, 2025 | News and Updates, Project Updates

We are proud to say a big thank you to The Hays Travel Foundation for supporting our Spotlight youth performance group this spring and early summer.

Thanks to this funding, our Spotlight performers have been able to continue training together every week, developing their skills and confidence through circus and aerial arts.

They’ve worked with professional circus artists, performed live at Rochdale Town Hall, and even had the chance to watch world-renowned company Gandini Juggling at The Lowry Theatre. Big thanks to The Lowry for supporting that trip too.

The group are now busy preparing to perform again later this month at Rochdale’s Feel Good Family Picnics, bringing high-energy circus to families across the borough alongside a chance for everyone to get their hands on circus and aerial themselves in our drop-in workshops!

photo of two young boys and circus teacher posing in pyramid shape

One Spotlight member told us:

“Being in Spotlight has been the best thing, like we get to push ourselves so much more now and my circus skills are improving, I’m also feeling more confident in my performances.”

This support has made a real difference to our young people, giving them a platform to grow, express themselves, and shine together as a team.

We’re grateful to be part of the amazing work The Hays Travel Foundation makes possible for young people across the country.

You can find out more about them at The Hays Travel Foundation 

Hays Travel Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn

Best wishes from all at Skylight Circus Arts and Spotlight!

Spotlight Shine at Rochdale Town Hall for Generations to Come

Spotlight Shine at Rochdale Town Hall for Generations to Come

by | Jul 4, 2025 | News and Updates, Our Team & Community, Performances & Events, Project Updates

Spotlight Shine at Rochdale Town Hall for Generations to Come

Our youth circus performers recently had the chance to bring circus to one of Rochdale’s most iconic spaces, the Great Hall at Rochdale Town Hall. They were invited to perform at Generations to Come, a community celebration highlighting creativity across ages and cultures within Rochdale.
Our young performers shared excerpts from Sky Fi, Skylight’s recent original show exploring the vastness of space, time and the young people questioning our connection to the universe. The group took acrobalance and juggling pieces to share with an audience of over 200 people.
The young performers recreated their acts before their feature at the Town Hall, with the stage measuring one third the size of their initial performance space, the group showed resilience, flexibility and creative thinking.
Spotlight is our youth performance group for young people aged 12 to 20 who want to push their circus skills further and gain hands on experience in the creative industry. They train weekly at Skylight and take part in events like this to build experience, confidence, creativity and connections with the community.
Thank you

A massive thank you to the organisers of Generations to Come for inviting us and creating space for young, creative talent in the heart of the Rochdale community.

Coming soon

Keep an eye out for more Spotlight appearances across the borough as we continue sharing circus and building new connections through circus performance. Find us at Darnhill Festival & Rochdale Feel Good Family Picnics.