A circus artist flips backwards in the air

Performer Call-Outs

Upswing is looking for various performers for our circus theatre production Showdown – touring UK venues in May-July 2025. See below for info about the show and the different roles:

About the show:

Framed as a good night out, Showdown is a playful exploration of power, competition, and the limits of shared experience. The show can best be described as a mash up of a talent show, a beauty pageant and the Hunger Games. Five hopeful acrobats compete to be crowned the ‘New Face of Circus’ and the audience is invited to choose the winner, guided by a charismatic but slightly controlling presenter.

The audience is taken on a journey through the highs and lows of competition, questioning concepts like fairness and meritocracy and the idea that the ’best’ candidate will always win through. By marrying tropes of ‘game show’ and ‘diversity initiative’ Showdown explores how identity interacts with the unwritten rules of the social games we all play.

Click for more show info & trailer

The Roles:

Showdown host
We’re seeking a talented, engaging and dynamic host character who can work with a live audience, hosting the ‘gameshow’ at the heart of Showdown.

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Acrobatic Base
We need a strong acrobatic base for group acrobatics, with experience of banquine.

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Circus/Acro Performer
We’re looking for a Global Majority circus artist with a strong primary skill in any circus discipline and experience in group acrobatics and banquine. We will prioritise ground based skills like Cyr wheel, juggling and handstands.

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Important info and how to apply:

Fee:

We pay above equity recommended rates

Essential dates:

20th Dec 2024 – Deadline to apply
Early Jan 2025 – Auditions
April 2025 – Rehearsals in London over two weeks w/c 31st March & 21 April
May-July 2025 – UK Tour between 2-7 Performances each week
August 2025 – Potential for a run in Edinburgh (to be confirmed in Dec)

How to apply:

To express your interest please send a headshot photo, video showreel/links of your work and a CV to recruitment@upswing.org.uk with the name of the role in the subject line. Please also indicate your nationality and where you are currently based.

Auditions will be by invitation and will take place in London in early January

Please contact us if you would like to arrange an informal conversation about the role.

Deadline: 20 December

Upswing have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion to develop a workforce that represents the diverse communities we work with. We actively encourage submissions from people of the Global Majority, who are currently underrepresented in our sector. 

JOIN OUR ADVENTURE!