• Photo: Kerry Palmer

  • Pirates of the Carabina

  • Photo: Mark Robson

  • Photo: Mark Robson

  • Photo: Mark Robson

  • Biography

    Pirates of the Carabina (POC) specialises in theatrical, highly technical circus shows combined with live music. A group of 10 experienced artists, they have created a platform for developing their own ideas, bringing to the stage the qualities that best express their essence. POC was formed organically out of a one-off commissioned performance of Flown for Glastonbury Festival in 2011. Since Flown’s  success, the Glastonbury Arts Commission has become an established award, offering a platform for new circus companies. During 2013/14 Flown  toured to venues across the UK, performing over 80 shows to more than 22,000 people. It has been performed to capacity crowds at Glastonbury Festival, Bristol Circus Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe where the Company won the Total Theatre Award for best Physical/Visual Theatre show.

    piratesofthecarabina.co.uk

  • Repertoire

    Flown 2013
    Home 2018
    Pirate Taxi 2020

Pirates of the Carabina

The rewarding part of working with Pirates of the Carabina is their constant desire to reinvent and develop their work. Crashing through the conventions of traditional circus they bring with them elements of the old but pull in their own punchy inventions for the 21st century. Live music and personal stories are at the heart of Flown, their first show, which we have helped to shape. Flying every which way on whatever is humanly possible we are supporting the Pirates on their journey forwards, or should we say upwards.

Supporting the development of Flown and more recently Pirate Taxi is part of our commitment to develop UK middle scale contemporary circus.  As an active project with the PASS Circus Channel partners, Pirates of the Carabina have participated in two residencies at La brèche, Cherbourg and Lighthouse Poole which has supported skills development, introduced directorial outside eyes and lighting expertise. In addition, Crying Out Loud has supported Pirates of the Carabina with the development of their company and the decision to constitute themselves as a collective. Crying Out Loud produces tours for Pirates of the Carabina in the UK and internationally.

Press

  • ‘Slipping deftly between humour, sobriety, grace and up-close spectacle, and punctuated by jokes, brief monologues and live music, this company devised piece pokes covertly sympathetic fun at disgruntlement, ineptitude and failure, via a series of faux mishaps that are delivered with immense skill and generosity of spirit.’

    The Times

  • ‘Flown successfully transforms its circus into something new and fresh.’

    Edinburgh Spotlight

  • ‘It’s a delightful show brimming with skilful, funny and heart-warming performances; boasting an ingenious set full of mechanical curiosities; and a great integration of live music and physical action. And how good to see a new British circus company making their mark at the Edinburgh Fringe!’

    Total Theatre