Refract '99 International Circus Conference

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Letters from Total Theatre

Here is the text from the letters sent to all Refract '99 attendees by Annabel Arndt of Total Theatre. You can reply to the following email address:
magtotaltheatre@easynet.co.uk

or to their offices in the same building as Circus Space (they are not connected!)

Total Theatre
The Circus Space
Coronet Street
London
N1 6HU

Dear Refract Attender

I am writing as a follow up to the Refract Conference. Further to discussions on the Friday and Saturday, I will be co-ordinating a working party which will establish a Circus association.

For those who don't know Total Theatre, we are the umbrella organisation for mime, physical theatre and visual performance. We have over 500 members who are practitioners, companies, educational institutions and other interested parties. We provide information for our members, promote the artform and aid professional development through training initiatives. We are independent and are not allied or partnered with any other organisation, but do cover circus to some extent in our magazine, total theatre as well as having a number of members who work in circus.

Although we do cover circus to a small extent, most recently through coverage in our magazine, circus is not, at present a priority art form area for us.

I would be very grateful if firstly you could let me know if you are interested in sitting on the working party and secondly if you could send me your opinions on the role and duties of a circus association plus anything else you would like the working party to look at. Unfortunately, there is no funding at all for the working party so expenses cannot be paid to those who join. It might be useful if you could comment on the previous aims which were set out by the now defunct circus forum which were to:

• raise the profile of circus as a cultural activity
• promote training and sharing of skills
• ensure that circus is a viable industry offering secure and worthwhile employment
• provide a forum between the different facets of the industry.

I feel that is essential that as many views as possible should be represented if the objective of a truly representative association for circus should be realised, so please do send me comments by e-mail wherever possible.

You should also have received information about an on-line circus discussion forum. This is taking place in tandem with the formation of the working party and will feed into whatever decisions are made once the committee is up and running.

I will be away in Edinburgh from 7th August to the beginning of September so will act on comments, suggestions etcetera as well as contacting those interested in being a part of the committe with the aim of having a first working party meeting as soon as possible after my return.

I look forward to hearing from you.

With best wishes,

Annabel Arndt

Director

I will be holding a Circus Meeting to set up a working party and look at what is wanted from a Circus organisation on 25/11 at 2pm next door to us at the Circus Space. I very much hope that as many people can come so that we can discuss the way ahead. Please could you let me know if you are able to attend and also send me any literature you would like circulated before the meeting. I will be away for the fist two weeks of November but can be contacted outside those dates on Tel: 0171 729 7944 Fax: 0171 729 7945 or e-mail. Please could you also let anyone know who you feel might be worth inviting.

With best wishes

Annabel Arndt

Total Theatre