How to describe Carny Ville, the awesome spectacle that returns to the Bridewell Island in Bristol city centre for possibly one last time next month? Let’s leave the explanation to Doug Francisco, ring master extraordinaire and the lead creative genius behind this astonishing production.
“Carny Ville is a multifaceted pan dimensional interactive wonderland, a free fall high dive entertainment joy ride, a carnival of life, a celebration of freedom, a night like no other,” Doug explains with typical lack of hyperbole.
Will there be any surprises this year, Doug? “That would ruin the surprise! But welcome to Carny World, the future future theme park version of the glory that once was, spectacular daredevil aerial feats and dazzling circus skills, fire and fenzy, passion and splendor, bizzare rituals, unnatural acts, performed live on stage!”
Carny Ville truly has to be seen, to be experienced to be believed. Its incarnation last year it was without doubt one of our highlights of 2009 (read all about it here) and next month’s show, which runs from October 1st to 3rd and 7th to 10th, promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
Immerse yourself into a fantastical world of wonder, with fire-belching lamp posts, bearded ladies and a whole host of colourful characters walking among you, appearing on stage and performing high above you.
According to Doug (who can be seen hanging above the crowd in the photo above), Carny Ville is “a collective vision, a shared dream”, where around 30 people come together and agree the theme and arc of a story before people pick up and run with each element.
“It’s a magical process,” he says. “Alchemists boil down cutlery and produce gold, druids chant and trance for visions of what will be, no one is really sure how it happens, it just magically comes together, usually at the last minute.”
There is a chance that this forthcoming Carny Ville may be its last hurrah. The former police station and fire station complex that the Invisible Circus inhabit is due to be turned into the headquarters of the My Place youth project.
But with the economy as it is, and government spending cuts on the horizon, there is real doubt whether the imposing space will be redeveloped any time soon.
Since their arrival at the Island from the Pro-Cathedral in Clifton, however, it has been a memorable journey.
Doug says: “It has been a real journey for all involved. Carny Villes have certainly been a real high, bringing something so big and spectacular to life in the middle of a city centre is a real victory for creativity over commercialism.
“We are looking at a variety of options (for the future) though nothing is confirmed. We have broken even with the Artspace Lifespace project here at the Island. Although this is a victory in many ways, we are assured we have to take into account the thousands of volunteer hours it has taken to make it happen.
“It has been exhausting and deeply challenging as well as uplifting and fulfilling. It would be good if the powers that be, or the great and the good – if they are indeed out there – would get together and support us a bit more whole heartedly. We have a lot of energy and enthusiasm about what is possible but we only have so much to pour into such big projects and not be able to support our crew in return.
“It would be nice of some doors would open and some spaces be offered. We have an amazing community of people here in our project and in the wider Bristol community. We could do so much, but it often feels like we are treading water and ultimately you can ony do that for so long.
“We have given our all for the past five years, if Bristol wants us it should make some efforts to keep us, we have really only just scratched the surface.”
Carny Ville takes place at the Old Fire Station, Silver Street, between October 1st and 3rd, and 7th and 10th. Tickets cost £20 and £15 concessions and are available from Bristol Ticket Shop. Telephone 0117 929 9008.
For more information, visit www.invisiblecircus.co.uk.
