PASS Circus Channel (INTERREG IVA) is a cross Channel contemporary circus programme that Crying Out Loud helped to establish in 2010. A European project, grouping eight organisations, it links north western France to southern England.

Its first phase in 2010 (Cross Spring) was a pilot collaboration focusing on contemporary circus on both sides of the Channel. During a week dedicated to British work at Cherbourg’s creation centre La brèche, six companies were given rehearsal time in its extraordinary facilities. Their residencies concluded in a mini series of UK work within La brèche’s larger Spring season. The UK companies that presented work were Layla Rosa, Upswing, Sugar Beast Circus, Acrojou, Genius Sweatshop and Ockham’s Razor.

As part of Cross Spring, Crying Out Loud and industry figures from France and the UK participated in a series of seminars and networking events that explored the different approaches in both countries to aesthetics and production of contemporary circus.

In the UK, the PASS organisations are SeaChange Arts, Activate Performing Arts, Lighthouse Poole and Farnham Maltings. In France they are: La brèche, Cirque Jules Verne, La Rennaissance and Conseille Général-50 Villes en Scenes.

Watch a video featuring Stopgap Dance Company in residency with Collectif Prêt-à-Porter at Farnham Maltings and you can read more here.