The Greatest Circus Show in Wales!

Do YOU Remember the First and Only Time the Circus Came to Abercynon?

KS2 pupils at Abercynon Community Primary School have been researching local heritage over the past few months, while planning and devising "The Greatest Circus Show in Wales", a project that explores the local history of Abercynon and circus traditions in Wales. Pupils have learned all about the first and only time the circus visited Abercynon in 1904. They then developed a script and performance based on this story. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund Wales.

The project was launched in July, with a workshop for pupils and staff at the Cynon Valley Museum. Pupils and staff were taught researching skills and put that research into practice to create their “Abercynon Museum of Wonders” display and when devising “Abercynon’s Anecdotal Archives”– the short lecture that featured in the pre-show segment of “The Greatest Circus Show in Wales

Reflective Practice: October 21^st, November 13^th & November 21^st November

The staff and pupils at Abercynon Community School have been working closely with our heritage partners (Cynon Valley Museum and No Fit State) and local arts organisation Forget-Me-Not-Productions to reflect on the highlights of the Heritage Lottery funded project ‘The Greatest Circus Show in Wales, which is being wrapped up this term. We have been collating qualitative data and evidence of all the heritage shared, included feedback from pupils, teachers and the local community.

Video archive material from the project (including extracts from the performances) will be made available next month so watch this space.

Roll up, Roll up: 28^th June & 2^nd July

Pupils thoroughly enjoyed their circus skills days with No Fit State Circus, and with Splat Entertainment. They developed skills in clowning, juggling, stilt walking and hula-hooping which they then integrated in "The Greatest Circus Show in Wales".

Making His Story and Her Story, Our Story: 4th July 2019

Pupils went to local family businesses in Abercynon (that have been open for generations) and interviewed the shopkeepers to uncover hidden memories of Abercynon, asking questions about a local archive newspaper story.

Cynon Valley Museum

Making His Story and Her Story, Our Story: 4th July 2019

NO FIT STATE!

We were lucky to work with No Fit State circus to teach us the circus skills we would need for our performance. They came to school to do workshops with us, and we were inspired by a visit to watch one of their training sessions. We asked the performers questions, and some even Skyped a reply because they were working abroad!

Roll Up! Roll Up! Come and See the Greatest Circus Show in Wales!

Abercynon Community Primary School is proud to be working again with Forget-me-not Productions, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund Wales.

Trissie Silcock was born in Abercynon in 1898. In the ‘Abercynon Community Partnership’ online archives, Trissie talks about the one and only time a circus visited Abercynon (approximately 1904).

Pupils have worked with a local heritage museum partner, a local history society, a community circus group and an inclusive arts organisation to create a project that celebrates local heritage, while developing skills in researching, local history and circus heritage in Wales.