Movement and Acrobatics with Mimbre

Whether you’re a theatre-maker, dancer, circus artist or just curious about how movement can deepen your performance, this dynamic workshop with leading physical theatre company Mimbre will help you explore the full expressive potential of your body.

Through guided warm-ups, acrobatic balances, lifts, and collaborative choreography, you’ll experiment with new ways to tell stories physically – using your existing skills and discovering new ones. 

You’ll be introduced to beginner-level acrobatic skills — such as headstands, handstands, cartwheels, and simple floor-based movements — along with basic partner work and guided warm-ups. This is a chance to move beyond spoken text and explore how emotion, narrative and connection can be created through physicality.

You’ll work in a welcoming and inclusive space that celebrates a variety of bodies, backgrounds and experiences.

What do I get by taking part? 

• Hands-on exploration of movement, partner work, balances and lifts
• Creative tools that blend dance, circus and theatre
• A deeper understanding of how physicality shapes story and character
• The chance to co-create bold, imaginative sequences
• A collaborative, supportive space to experiment and grow
• Guidance from expert practitioners
• A boost in confidence using your body on stage
• New collaborators and connections across disciplines

Who is teaching the project? 

Lead Tutor: Silvia Fratelli

(Co-Founder and Joint Artistic Director of Mimbre)

After graduating from the National Centre for Circus Arts (NCCA) in 1998, Silvia founded Mimbre alongside Lina Johansson and Emma Norin with a vision of challenging the predominant gendered roles within contemporary circus.

Silvia has been both an artistic director and performer within the company, taking part in many of its productions that have toured nationally and internationally. Her most recent work as a performer includes the Sky Arts silent comedy Ruby Robinson alongside Kim Cattrall, Aida – English National Opera, The Party – Nearly There Yet, Wondrous Strange – a RSC-commissioned show, and Mimbre’s Lifted and Weight(less) amongst others. 

Currently, she leads Mimbre’s acrobatic training and well-being programme and investigations, developing Mimbre’s team of core acrobatic performers. She manages the company’s international bookings and tour logistics and was on the steering committee for One Dance UK’s first Hip-Hop and Circus Conference.

MIMBRE: Founded in 1999, Mimbre are a female-led producing company, creating delicate, breathtaking and highly-skilled acrobatic theatre for outdoor and unusual settings, touring nationally and internationally, with a strong digital presence. They collaborate across the Creative Industries, as consultants and creators. They run a vibrant local youth programme and an Artist Development Programme for physical performers.

Do I need any particular skills or experience to take part?

The workshop is aimed at people who have done some form of performing arts before: dance, theatre, spoken word, circus, music and so on and want to explore how they can develop their performance skills further. All levels and abilities are welcome, and we will work inclusively to approach specific physicalities (injury, disability, body type, experience level) as creative springboards instead of stopping points, using restrictions as tools to come up with new and original ways of working!

I’M NOT SURE I CAN AFFORD TO TAKE PART…

If you need help to pay for things like project fees, transport or childcare, we can help. Find out how you can get support. If you are using a bursary to pay for the project, please ensure you arrange this with the Advice Base with plenty of time before the start of the project.

I HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS. WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?

We are committed to supporting D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse young people, those with medical conditions, access requirements or any lived experience that may require adaptation, support or sensitivity. If there is anything you would like to let us (our youth workers, tutors or staff) know that will support your enjoyment and access, you can do so by emailing us at advicebase@roundhouse.org.uk, and we will contact you to discuss further how to best support your engagement.