About Us

Amy Nicholls is a freelance Circus Producer, Fundraiser and Director. She is the Co-Director of female-led circus; Lavrak and new disabled-led circus; Make Space, the Programme Manager for Scarabeus Aerial Theatre and Fundraiser for Levantes Dance Theatre. She is passionate about access in the arts and built an artist development residency programme at Flying Fantastic, supporting the creation of new accessible work.

She first came across Circus City in 2017, when she was commissioned to produce a cabaret for the festival and has been in love with the festival ever since. Amy joined the Handstand Arts Board in 2023.

Kate trained at The Laban Centre and Circomedia, she was initially an aerialist performing with Skinning the Cat Aerial Theatre, In 2001, Kate set up Circomedia’s outreach programme and went on to set up and run their BTEC National Diploma qualification, as well as teach on the FDA and MA programmes. Kate has an MA in Educational Research and was the lead tutor on Circomedia’s Teacher Training Course. As a freelance director and producer, Kate works regularly with Cirque Bijou, most notably on Drawer of Dreams (2006), Battle for the Winds (2012) – a south West project for the Olympics and Green Space Dark Skies (2022), an outdoor participatory collaboration with Walk the Plank. She was the Associate Circus Director for Extraordinary Bodies production of Waldo’s Circus of Magic and Terror (2023) and regularly directs for Tumbellina International. Kate was also the producer of Bristol’s Circus 250 celebrations in 2018.

Strategic work includes development for Circomedia (2018-2021), leading on Circus Change Up – an initiative to develop sector support for circus, working with Equity to develop safe working practices and working on talent development for disabled artists with Extraordinary Bodies. Kate is also a member of the advisory board for Revel Pucks Circus and is a member of Circus Works board. Kate is an RD1st Coach and regularly supports artists at all stages of their careers.

Sascha Goslin is a freelance producer and founder of the Norfolk Black & POC Creatives Network. Passionate about physical theatre and politics, she focuses on circus, outdoor and accessible shows, believing that performance has the power to change people, perspectives and hopefully, the world.

Nicole has 10 years experience as a creative producer in the circus sector, including five years with Handstand Arts as Circus City producer and key roles developing and touring circus internationally with Extraordinary Bodies and Laura Murphy. Her Queer and neurodivergent position, coupled with her training as an RD1st coach, has led her to place accessibility, care, and representation at the core of her practice. As Artistic Director she is keen to develop the accessibility of our events and to deepen our relationships with the artists we programme and commission. Motivated by Circus research, she is passionate about the role our work can play in the continual questioning and development of what circus is and can be, and what it can offer to audiences.

Rhiannon joined HSA in 2023. She brings over 20 years’ experience working in the arts and cultural sector from traditional theatres to combined arts and community venues including Trinity Centre, Bristol, where she led the artistic programme for 8 years. Her passion is to work with and for organisations that put artists and communities at the centre of what they do, empower people to think differently about their own creativity and lead their own cultural expression.

Rhiannon completed the Clore Social – Experienced Leaders Programme (2022 – 23) and holds an MA in Arts Policy and Management. She is also currently Strategic Lead at Misfits Theatre Company.

Thea joined HSA in 2023 and brings 10 years of experience as a Producer, Finance Manager and Project Manager in the arts and voluntary sectors, including 5 years with international show makers Cirque Bijou. With a background in music, she is passionate about working creatively and collaboratively to make socially engaged, inclusive, accessible live performances, events, and experiences.

Haleema is an impassioned implementor of creative projects which engage more globally with people, cultures and communities with over 10 years experience in the creative sector. She co-founded Tamba Africa Social Circus, a grassroots project which engages young people from marginalized communities and artists with disability in transformational circus theatre across Southern Africa. She is also the founder and Creative Director of NGUWOapotheca, a consultancy which works with circular & sustainable fashion brands and organizations the world over.

Manya is committed to producing playful and adventurous work that has the capacity to create added value, bring together people and communities, & facilitate valuable & lasting experiences in the arts.

She has extensive experience as a practicing artist, producer, & director within the realm of contemporary performance. She is excited by work that embeds inclusive approaches and is responsive, to enable those who have been marginalised and face barriers to both participate meaningfully and have creative agency.

Most recently she has been Creative Programmes Manager at Déda where she was supporting artists and developing programmes for audiences across the region, including on leading on the delivery of Derby Festé, International Street Theatre Festival.

“I want everyone to have the chance to experience the magic of circus. It’s an emerging sector and I’m excited about the social and physical change it can bring to people from all paths of life.”

Anna has worked in contemporary circus since 2010, from independent school Aircraft Circus, to producing shows. She has covered a wide variety of roles in the circus sector, including venue management, teaching, producing and course development, but has always focused on participation, and community work. For 7 years, she worked on progressive youth programmes at the National Centre for Circus Arts and recently has been working as Participation Producer for Upswing.  She has a BA(Hons) in Theatre & Performance Studies. In her spare time, she is learning British Sign Language and loves to hula hoop.