Galway Community Circus is thrilled to announce the return of its much-loved Mayhem Youth Circus Festival, taking place from 24 to 31 May. Find out how your family can take part here...
Now in its sixth year, the festival is a celebration of youth circus, featuring free performances by circus members and guest artists, as well as a wide range of free and low-cost circus workshops for children, young people and adults.
Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Erasmus+, Leargas, Claddagh Credit Union, ISACS and Creative Ireland, the festival promises a joyful week of community celebration, skill-sharing and creativity.
"The Mayhem Festival is where the joy of circus meets the spirit of community. It’s a chance to celebrate the circus arts, creativity and the incredible power of play," said Lynn Carroll, CEO of Galway Community Circus. "Whether you’re trying circus for the first time or cheering on a performance, there’s something for everyone to enjoy."
A highlight of the week is Circus in the Park, a vibrant two-day celebration at Fr Burke Park in Galway’s Westend on Saturday 24 May, 10:30am-5pm, and Sunday 25 May, from 10:30am to 5:30pm. Events will take place inside and outside Galway Community Circus’s big top tent, with different offerings each day. Saturday will feature €5 adult acrobatics, hat juggling and funambulism (wire walking with a balancing pole) workshops, which must be pre-booked online. There will also be free drop-in mixed skills workshops from 2:30-5pm, as well as a free performance by our Flea Circus classes at 1:30pm.
Sunday will feature several slots of free, drop-in mixed skills workshops as well as aerial cocoon workshops. Aerial workshops can be booked on-site at the info tent. €5 funambulism workshops will also be available on the day. Attendees on Sunday will also enjoy two free performances of Tape That! by acrobatic duo Hands Down Circus, as well as two free shows of Frankie Magilligan's Comedy Juggling Show by master juggler Paul Quate.
The Mayhem Festival will also feature two standout evening performances at the Circus Hall in St Joseph’s Community Centre in Shantalla, showcasing the creativity and talent of young circus artists. On Sunday 25 May at 7pm, the Youth Cabaret will bring together emerging performers from Galway Community Circus and In Your Space Circus in Derry. This vibrant collaboration is part of the Circus Explored Shared Island Youth Exchange, supported by ISACS and Creative Ireland. Audiences can look forward to an exciting mix of aerials, acrobatics, juggling, clowning, and more, as young artists take the stage with energy and imagination.
Then on Saturday 31 May at 6:30pm, the spotlight turns to the Galway Young Artists Collective showcase. This performance is a culmination of intensive training, artistic exploration and professional mentorship, and will feature original contemporary circus work created and performed by young artists training at an advanced level. Audiences can expect a dynamic and imaginative display of Galway’s rising circus talent in an evening that celebrates the future of circus arts.
For the full Mayhem Festival schedule and more information visit www.galwaycommunitycircus.com.
Photos by Emilija Jefremova
