• Photo: Hugo Glendinning

  • Photo: Hugo Glendinning

  • Photo: Hugo Glendinning

Anchored in Air show


UK

Anchored In Air is a groundbreaking and exhilarating aerial theatre show by Head Over Wheels, a disabled & non-disabled aerial company, pushing the boundaries of Circus.

This debut show is a mesmerising fusion of circus, dance, spoken text and music, a thrilling journey into the world of flying wheelchairs, integrated audio description, gravity-defying acrobatics, and the captivating challenge of navigating a colossal tower.

The multifaceted trio grapple with themes of isolation, connection, struggle and rewards with their human, light-hearted and playful energy. Watch them clamber and tumble, as they navigate the ever changing and difficult world we live in.

How do we navigate the world? How does your experience differs to others? How do we get to the top, together?

Supported by Without Walls and commissioned by Brighton Festival and Certain Blacks.

Co-commissioned by Crying Out Loud, supported by Arts Council England, 101 Arts Centre and Jackson’s Lane.

  • Company

    Performed and created by: Tilly Lee-Kronick, Jonny Leitch and Phoebe Knight

    Original Concept: Tilly Lee-Kronick and Coral Dawson

    Creative Facilitator: Charlotte Mooney (Ockham’s Razor)

    Mentor: Jamie Beddard

  • Understanding Access

    As in integrated company Head Over Wheels are challenging misconceptions on disability: breaking stereotypes of what a ‘circus body’ should look/move like; striving for inclusivity in the arts; encouraging people to use the social model of disability. There are very few inclusive companies or training opportunities for disabled circus and physical theatre artists. Head Over Wheels are paving the way for change and this project is a crucial way forward and builds on previous work with Diverse City and Extraordinary Bodies.

    We believe art and theatre should be accessible to all, to reach a diverse audience and to effect more people. There will be two versions of the show, the outdoor one aims to remove barriers that some face when trying to see performances in theatres, particularly for disabled people, theatre’s can be inaccessible, as an integrated company, we want our audiences to feel seen and represented on stage. Once finalised, we plan to make an indoor version of the show in Winter 2024 with dramaturgical development and lighting design.

    Head Over Wheels aspire to tour and work internationally, beginning relationship with Teatronis in Kaunas Lithuania, brokered by Crying Out Loud, with one week residency and three days of performances in Vilñius and Kaunas. As well as the opportunity to premiere the show internationally this can begin an international residency exchange, initiated by Crying Out Loud and Third Version Creative to deepen the understandings around access and perceptions of disabilities in different cultures.

  • Timeline

    Two separate periods of R&D (at Jacksons Lane funded by ACE and by Blueprint Award, Without Walls) have enabled the company to develop a narrative along with Creative Facilitator  Charlotte Moony and to test the counterweight structure. At the Jacksons Lane public work in progress presentation, non and partially sighted people were invited to experience a touch tour as a pre-show guide of the set with a discussion about the role the set has in the show. This was followed by a post-show feedback and question and answer session. Both fed into the next development stage of the work.

    Next steps

    2024/25 winter/spring – creation period at 101 Outdoor Arts, Bernie Grant Arts Centre and The Point

    May 2024 – residency organised by Teatronis, Kaunas Lithuania

    June 2024 – three performances at Cirkuliacija Kaunas and Vilnius Arts Printing House

  • Commissioners and Supporters

    Supported by Without Walls and commissioned by Brighton Festival and Certain Blacks. The R&D for Anchored in Air was supported by Blueprint: Without Walls R&D Investment Fund.

    Co-commissioned by Crying Out Loud, supported by Arts Council England, 101 Arts Centre and Jackson’s Lane.