Celebrate the ways we can feel powerful - even in an uncertain world. Circus-theatre that is uplifting, funny, and beautifully moving.
POWER is a solo circus-theatre work, celebrating the ways we can feel powerful, even in an uncertain world. Combining circus physicality, voice-over soundtrack and verbal storytelling, POWER is optimistic, uplifting, funny, physical and moving. It is created for theatres, but is easily adaptable for regional/rural touring venues and outdoor spaces.
POWER was born from interviews I recorded with real people, about their experiences of feeling strong or powerful. These people’s stories are the heart of the work. They intersect with the autobiography of a Strong Lady: who tries to feel powerful by controlling everything and striving to be invincible - finally seeing the power in accepting the mess of uncertainty and finding strength in places where we wobble.
POWER celebrates the power we have, to choose the next step through the mess - trading invincibility for resilience. Audiences leave the show energised and hopeful, thinking about what story of power they would have told if I had interviewed them - or better yet, they often start telling it.
There are a range of options to create bespoke creative engagement offers alongside this show, projects that guide participants to identify, craft and share their own stories of strength and power.
- Venue Format
- Theatre, Hall, Black Box Venue, Outdoor
- Technical Rating
- Touring Party
- 2 (1 performer + 1 technician - couple)
- Considerations
The show is designed for theatres, but if COVID is still an issue, it can be presented in uncoventional spaces & outdoors.
Minimum space requirement 4m deep x 7m wide x 4m height clearance
I am a circus Strong Lady. For almost 20 years I have toured internationally with my solo show Strong Lady (and in ensemble shows) primarily to outdoor arts festivals and variety theatres. From September 2020 my new circus-theatre show POWER is available for theatre touring.
For outdoor arts festival touring, I can offer my existing solo show, Strong Lady. In 2021 I will also premiere a new outdoor show, Strong Enough. I also offer event speaking/MCing and have a strong focus on creative engagement projects, available alongside my performances. I am especially interested in longer duration participatory projects.
Originally from QLD, I have been living in the UK since 2008. My work has primarily toured in the UK and Europe, extending to include: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Asia, and USA. I am planning to return to live in QLD (Sunshine Coast) from mid 2021.
- Company Website
- strongladyproductions.com
Unique Selling Point
I am a circus strong lady, using the physical strength of circus skills to reveal the emotional strength in real people's stories.
While it has no content about Covid, the themes of resilience, adaptability, perseverance and control are very timely! It has a powerful community engagement project alongside.
I am a QLD artist, based between the Sunshine Coast and the UK - this year I am 'moving home' to be more heavily based in Nambour. POWER was developed and premiered in the UK, with extensive support and partnerships, and collaborators including: Complicite, Ockham's Razor & Spy Monkey. 2021 tour of 10 UK venues.
Marketing Materials
marketing collateral: marketing copy, print material templates, digital assets, images, promo footage, Media Release
Social media project where audiences are invited to contribute photos of themselves in POWER POSES that will be shared on platforms and displayed in Foyer.
Workshops & creative engagement projects
Schools Pack
Community Engagement
STORIES of STRENGTH. As a Circus Strong Lady, I have spent over 20 years touring internationally and performing 'Feats-of-Strength'. STORIES of STRENGTH is a creative engagement project that explores the powerful ways in which we all perform feats of strength in our own lives - it is a celebration of stories of resilience, perseverance, determination and vulnerability.
The details of the project are crafted bespoke for each community, though it always centres around asking people the question: "Can you tell me about a time when you were strong?" - Most people react, at first, that they “wouldn’t have a story like that”… but everyone does!
Participants are supported in identifying & sharing stories of strength or power in their own lives. The project will be designed bespoke for you - the method of delivery, timescale & the public outcomes are hugely adaptable. There are two steps - Gathering stories (This can be done through outreach interviews or workshops) and then Celebrating them (this can be sharing stories at the end of a workshop or public outcomes including exhibitions with photo and audio, online galleries, open mic style performances, short films and social media projects).
Comments/Reviews
Henry Filloux-Bennett Artistic Director at The Lawrence Batley
Audience Review
The show Charmaine has created is absolutely stunning – it is moving, funny, beautifully staged, and the audience response was absolutely incredible.
Steve Cowton Head of Production at The Lowry
Colleague Review
A very accomplished and thought-provoking piece of theatre… I appreciated the way in which the circus elements were seamlessly interwoven into the narrative. The subjects of empowerment and mental well-being felt very appropriate for our time. It's a very warm and intimate piece of theatre.
Angela Sykes Program Manager at The Corn Hall
Colleague Review
Moving, funny and uplifting. Charmaine Childs is a natural storyteller and the combination of personal experience, collected memories and acts of physical strength kept the audience transfixed.
audience review
Audience Review
Charmaine has a sound track of men, women and children talking about when they have experienced a feeling of power - And her audience laughs and cries along with the story.
Joyce Henderson (Complicite)
Colleague Review
“... Stories that are touching, tragic and true... subject matter about ordinary people, told through extraordinary skill. ”
Ockham's Razor (Charlotte Mooney)
Colleague Review
“a relevant, timely piece exploring perceptions of strength and power. Compassionate, moving and funny. The way Charmaine is weaving together the stories and circus is inventive and original and I think the show will absolutely push forward the art form... There are very few projects of this integrity and clarity being made in contemporary circus.”
Mervyn Millar (Object animation Director, War Horse)
Colleague Review
“Layering found (and real) stories with her own personal journey, and telling it by playfully and thoughtfully engaging her skills ... she has a light touch and a keen ear which allow her to explore her themes of strength, power and resilience in ways that go beyond the obvious and create really involving moments. “