DECADES OF SPECTACLE, SURPRISE & UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS
Long before the headline acts take to the Pyramid Stage, another world is already coming to life across the fields at Glastonbury Festival…
Exploding among the winding pathways, colourful tents and curious corners of the legendary Circus & Theatre Fields, extraordinary characters roam freely. Giants tower above the crowds; mysterious creatures emerge without warning and fire lights up the festival night sky as audiences stumble across performances they never expected to find.
For Area 51, this wonderfully unpredictable corner of one of the world’s most iconic festivals, has been home for many years.
WHEN THE UNEXPECTED BECOMES UNFORGETTABLE
Glastonbury’s celebrated Circus & Theatre Fields have always celebrated the unusual, left-field, the imaginative and delightfully eccentric, making them the perfect locale for Area 51’s unique style of immersive entertainment. Over the years the company has supplied an ever-changing collection of spectacular walkabout performers: towering stilt walkers, bizarre creatures and beautifully crafted costumed characters that have become part of the colourful fabric of the festival itself.
Rather than regularly performing on the festival’s largest music stages, these creations belong amongst the people – appearing unexpectedly around corners, weaving through crowds and transforming every stroll across the fields into something magical and memorable. Many festival-goers may never have known who created these unforgettable encounters, but they’ve almost certainly shared a laugh, posed for a photograph or been surprised by one of Area 51’s characters.
THE CARAVAN OF LOST SOULS ROLLS INTO TOWN
At the heart of Area 51’s long-standing relationship with Glastonbury Festival sits one of the company’s most beloved productions… The Caravan of Lost Souls.
Part travelling sideshow, part immersive theatre experience, and part pop-up circus spectacular, the Caravan of Lost Souls has become something of an institution within the Circus & Theatre Fields. Built around its beautifully eccentric travelling caravan, the production creates an intimate performance space where audiences gather almost by accident before finding themselves completely absorbed by the strange and wonderful world unfolding before them.
Guiding proceedings is the enigmatic Igor Rasputin, whose mischievous wit and larger-than-life personality, introduce a constantly evolving programme of extraordinary acts hand-picked by Area 51 chiefs.
The line up changes from show-to-show, bringing together a cast that features some of the world’s most intriguing circus acts, variety performers and kooky visual entertainers from across the globe. Among the many memorable appearances has been the wonderfully quirky Professor Elemental whose unique blend of comedy, chap-hop music and gloriously British steampunk charm has proved to be a perfect fit for Igor Rasputin’s delightfully unconventional atmosphere.
The caravan stage itself is a pop-up creation pulled by idiosyncratic and smartly-dressed chimps so when it rolls by, it is utterly unforgettable.
No two performances are ever quite the same which is exactly how the Caravan likes it!
FIRE, SPECTACLE & LATE-NIGHT MAGIC
As daylight fades, the atmosphere changes once again.
Area 51 has regularly provided spectacular fire performances that illuminate the Circus Stage with mesmerising displays of skill, choreography and controlled danger, always creating memorable moments beneath the summer Somerset sky.
The company has also provided a formidable cast of charismatic hosts and comperes for Circus Stage productions, helping to link performances together with humour, audience interaction and plenty of theatrical flair. Whether introducing world-class performers or entertaining the crowd between acts, Area 51’s crew understand that every moment contributes to the overall experience.
A SPECTACULAR HEADLINE ACHIEVEMENT
While immersive entertainment has remained the company’s trademark contribution to Glastonbury, one production stands out as a particularly proud milestone.
Area 51’s spectacular Somnambu show was chosen to headline the Circus Big Top, presenting audiences with an ambitious large-scale theatrical production that showcased the company’s creativity, visual imagination and production expertise. It remains one of the defining highlights in Area 51’s long association with Glastonbury Festival and a testament to the confidence that festival organisers have placed in the company’s work over many years.
STILL EVOLVING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
One of the key reasons Area 51’s relationship with the Circus & Theatre Fields has endured for so long is that nothing ever stands still and there is no time to rest on their laurels. New performers arrived from the four corners of earth and fresh characters are created. Costumes evolve and new creations are birthed. Fresh stories emerge. Every visit brings a different surprise while retaining the wonderfully eccentric spirit that audiences have come to love.
From towering stilt walkers and extraordinary walkabout characters to fire performers, circus hosts, and the endlessly entertaining Caravan of Lost Souls, Area 51 has been helping make that happen or years.
