NoFit State Circus

NoFit State Circus is a contemporary circus company based in Cardiff, Wales. Founded in 1986, it has developed a distinctive model that combines large-scale touring productions with training, participation and community-based creative work. Rather than relying on a traditional circus format centered on a ring, animals or a fixed venue, the company works across big-top, theatrical and outdoor settings, using aerial performance, acrobatics, physical theatre, live spectacle and devised ensemble work. The company became known in the United Kingdom and internationally for immersive and visually ambitious productions. Its first major large-scale show, Immortal, established an artistic direction that treated circus as a medium for exploring atmosphere, emotion and the human condition as much as technical skill. Later productions such as Tabú and Bianco continued to combine circus with contemporary dance, experimental theatre, music, visual design and movement-based storytelling. Bianco: Turning Savage became the company's longest-running production, touring for approximately five years and reaching audiences in the United Kingdom, Australia, Hong Kong and the United States. NoFit State has also created work outside the conventional touring tent. BLOCK, produced with Motionhouse, used large Jenga-like structures as both scenic objects and performance apparatus. The production was commissioned through the Without Walls programme and toured extensively in the United Kingdom and abroad. The company has produced outdoor and participatory projects including Parklife, Open House and Barricade, inviting professional artists, local groups and members of the public into circus-making environments. Education and access are central to the organisation's activities. Since 2006, it has operated a permanent training space and school in Cardiff, offering classes in aerial disciplines, ropes, silks, aerial hoop, static trapeze, acro-balance, juggling and related skills. It also runs youth and community programmes for participants with different levels of experience. Some students have progressed to specialist circus education, including study at Circomedia. This combination of professional production and public participation has made NoFit State both a touring arts company and a regional circus-development organisation. The company marked its thirtieth anniversary in 2016 with international activity, including the Chinese premiere of Bianco in Hong Kong and its United States debut in partnership with St. Ann's Warehouse in New York. Its touring history has also included appearances and projects in France, Spain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, South Korea and Australia. The company was featured at the first Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque in southern France in 2015. LEXICON, which premiered in connection with the 250th anniversary of modern circus, represented a return to a big-top format with defined seating and staging after the more immersive approaches of productions such as Bianco and Tabú. Its tour was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, although performances resumed for a final run in Cardiff and elsewhere in late 2021 and early 2022. SABOTAGE was the company's first new big-top production created after the pandemic and subsequently toured in the United Kingdom and Europe. BAMBOO, an outdoor production developed with Imagineer Productions and Orit Azaz, explores the performance possibilities of structures made from UK-grown bamboo. CARNATION was announced as a 2026 big-top production associated with the company's fortieth anniversary. NoFit State remains an active Welsh cultural organisation whose brand is defined by contemporary circus, adventurous touring formats, collaboration with other artists and sustained engagement with learners and communities.

NoFit State Circus was established in 1986 in Wales and developed into one of the country's best-known contemporary circus organisations. Its work has consistently extended beyond conventional circus presentation: the company tours in custom-designed big tops, theatres and outdoor locations, while also maintaining education and participation programmes in Cardiff. The company's first major large-scale production, Immortal, toured from 2002 to 2006. Directed by Firenza Guidi, it used circus technique alongside an atmospheric and emotionally oriented theatrical language. The production received recognition at the Tarrega Festival and other awards, helping establish NoFit State's reputation for ambitious contemporary circus. Tabú premiered at Tredegar Park in Newport in April 2008 and toured in Britain and Europe through 2010. Like Immortal, it combined circus, dance and experimental theatre and retained some members of the earlier production's creative team. The work prompted varied critical responses, reflecting the company's willingness to place circus within a more abstract and visually driven theatrical framework. The early 2010s brought a series of projects in different formats. Labyrinth, Mundo Paralelo, Barricade, Parklife, Noodles and Open House expanded the company's outdoor, participatory and community-facing practice. Barricade was directed by Orit Azaz and was presented to audiences in the United Kingdom and France. Parklife and Open House created settings in which local amateur and professional performers could work alongside NoFit State artists in public. Bianco became one of the company's defining productions. Initially developed with the Eden Project in 2012 as Bianco: Time for Beauty, it was subsequently reworked as Bianco: Turning Savage. The revised production opened at The Roundhouse in April 2013 and toured in a custom-designed big-top tent. It visited venues throughout the United Kingdom, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and later reached Australia, Hong Kong and New York. Its approximately five-year touring history made it NoFit State's longest-running show. In 2015 the company was invited to the south of France as a featured participant in the inaugural Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque. In December of that year it launched a thirtieth-anniversary exhibition at its Four Elms building in Cardiff's Adamsdown area and introduced an electronic archive documenting its history. At the same event, co-founder and creative director Ali Williams announced her intention to leave her role, with the transition taking place in 2016. BLOCK, created with Motionhouse, was commissioned through the Without Walls programme in 2016. Developed by Ali Williams and Motionhouse's Kevin Finnan, the outdoor work used twenty large grey blocks as scenery, apparatus and narrative material. It toured for several years across the United Kingdom and internationally, including visits to Europe, South Korea, Hong Kong and Brisbane. LEXICON marked a change in the company's big-top practice. Unlike the more immersive presentation of Bianco and Tabú, it used seating and staging within the tent. Directed by Firenza Guidi, it premiered in Newcastle-under-Lyme during the Circus 250 programme commemorating 250 years of modern circus. Its touring schedule was interrupted by COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, but it returned for a final series of performances around Christmas 2021 and January 2022, including work in Cardiff under unusually restrictive performance conditions. SABOTAGE followed as the first big-top production created after the pandemic. Developed in Haverfordwest and premiered in West Wales, it toured extensively across the United Kingdom and made the company's first post-pandemic European tour in 2023, including performances in Lyon, Antwerp and Prague. The company subsequently developed BAMBOO as an outdoor production with Imagineer Productions and Orit Azaz. The project investigates how locally grown bamboo can support circus structures, performance and storytelling. CARNATION was identified as the company's 2026 big-top production and part of its fortieth-anniversary activity. Alongside touring, NoFit State continues to operate training and youth programmes in Cardiff, offering aerial, acrobatic and juggling classes for beginners and experienced participants.

• 2026

  CARNATION marks the fortieth anniversary

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  CARNATION is identified as a current big-top touring production connected with the company's fortieth anniversary.

• 2024

  BAMBOO is created

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  The company develops an outdoor production based on UK-grown bamboo and circus structures.

• 2022

  SABOTAGE premieres

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  SABOTAGE becomes the company's first new post-pandemic big-top production.

• 2018

  LEXICON premieres

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  LEXICON premieres during the Circus 250 programme and begins a big-top tour.

• 2016

  Thirtieth anniversary and international expansion

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  The company celebrates thirty years, presents Bianco in Hong Kong and makes its United States debut in New York.

• 2016

  BLOCK enters touring

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  The outdoor co-production with Motionhouse begins a multiyear United Kingdom and international tour.

• 2015

  Biennale and archive milestones

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  NoFit State appears at the first Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque and launches an anniversary exhibition and electronic archive.

• 2013

  Bianco: Turning Savage opens

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  The redeveloped production opens at The Roundhouse and begins an extended big-top tour.

• 2012

  Bianco is developed with the Eden Project

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  The company develops Bianco: Time for Beauty as a promenade production in partnership with the Eden Project.

• 2008

  Tabú premieres

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  Tabú premieres at Tredegar Park in Newport before touring Britain and Europe.

• 2006

  Permanent Cardiff training space opens

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  NoFit State begins operating a permanent training space and school in Cardiff.

• 2002

  Immortal begins touring

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  The company's first large-scale production tours, establishing its contemporary circus profile.

• 1986

  Company founded

  [1]NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org

  NoFit State Circus is established in Wales and begins developing contemporary circus work.

A Welsh contemporary circus organisation positioned between touring performing arts company, experimental theatre producer, circus school and community arts platform. Its work emphasizes human-scale participation, physical skill, visual invention, unconventional performance spaces and collaboration between professional and non-professional performers.

• Large-scale contemporary circus production · 2002

  Immortal

  NoFit State's first large-scale show, touring from 2002 to 2006. Directed by Firenza Guidi, it emphasized the human soul, atmosphere and a broad mixture of circus and theatrical ideas rather than treating physical technique as the sole subject. The production received recognition including a Tap Water Award, an Editor's Choice Award from ThreeWeeks and the Jury Award at the Tarrega Festival.

• Tented contemporary circus production · 2008

  Tabú

  A production directed by Firenza Guidi that premiered at Tredegar Park in Newport in April 2008 and toured Britain and Europe. Tabú continued NoFit State's combination of contemporary dance, experimental theatre and circus imagery, with a returning creative relationship to Immortal. Critical responses were mixed, particularly around the relationship between its detailed fictional background and the live performance.

• Promenade circus production · 2012

  Bianco: Time for Beauty

  Bianco: Time for Beauty was developed with the Eden Project in 2012 as an immersive promenade performance. Its design placed audiences within a moving, visually rich circus environment rather than a conventional front-facing theatre arrangement. The show was later substantially reworked with new acts, ideas and performers.

• Big-top contemporary circus production · 2013

  Bianco: Turning Savage

  The 2013 redevelopment of Bianco opened at The Roundhouse and became NoFit State's longest-running show. It toured for roughly five years in a custom-designed big-top tent, including a sell-out Edinburgh Festival Fringe engagement. The production expanded the company's international reach with premieres and tours in Australia, Hong Kong and New York.

• Outdoor circus and dance-circus production · 2016

  BLOCK

  Created with Motionhouse, BLOCK used twenty large grey blocks resembling oversized Jenga pieces as central scenic and performance elements. Developed by Ali Williams and Kevin Finnan, it was commissioned through the Without Walls programme in 2016. The outdoor production toured for approximately five years across the United Kingdom, Europe, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia.

• Big-top contemporary circus production · 2018

  LEXICON

  LEXICON was the company's first production built in a big top with dedicated seating and staging, following the more immersive formats of Bianco and Tabú. Directed by Firenza Guidi, it premiered at Newcastle-under-Lyme during Circus 250, a programme marking the anniversary of modern circus. Its tour was interrupted by COVID-19 and resumed for a final run in late 2021 and early 2022.

• Big-top contemporary circus production · 2022

  SABOTAGE

  SABOTAGE was created in Haverfordwest and premiered in West Wales as NoFit State's first new big-top show produced after the COVID-19 pandemic. Directed by Firenza Guidi, it toured extensively around the United Kingdom and reached Europe in 2023, including Lyon, Antwerp and Prague. Its themes and physical language address human vulnerability, conflict and resilience.

• Outdoor circus production · 2024

  BAMBOO

  BAMBOO is an outdoor touring production developed with Imagineer Productions and Orit Azaz. Directed by Mish Weaver, it explores how UK-grown bamboo can be used to create circus structures, performance environments and stories. The project reflects NoFit State's continuing interest in outdoor presentation, sustainable materials and collaborative creation.

• Big-top contemporary circus production · 2026

  CARNATION

  CARNATION is identified as the company's 2026 big-top production and is directed by Firenza Guidi. Connected with NoFit State's fortieth anniversary, its announced itinerary includes Porthcawl, Brighton, Bristol, Galway, Carmarthen and Cardiff.

• Education and training · 2006

  Circus school and training programmes

  Since 2006, NoFit State has operated a permanent Cardiff training space offering aerial and ground-based classes. Disciplines include ropes, silks, aerial hoop, static trapeze, acro-balance and juggling. The organisation also provides youth circus activities and sessions for children and adults at different levels of experience.

• 2016Bianco international expansion

  Hong Kong · United States · United Kingdom

  The company used the Bianco tour to expand its international profile, presenting the production in Hong Kong and making its United States debut through St. Ann's Warehouse in New York.

  Outcome. The activity extended the reach of NoFit State's big-top contemporary circus beyond its established United Kingdom and European circuit.

  Source
• 2015Thirtieth-anniversary exhibition and E-Archive

  Cardiff · United Kingdom

  NoFit State marked its history with an exhibition at the Four Elms building in Adamsdown, Cardiff, and launched an electronic archive documenting three decades of activity.

  Outcome. The archive and exhibition created a public record of the company's development and supported its thirtieth-anniversary programme.

  Source

• 2024

  Develop BAMBOO as a sustainable outdoor circus projectProduct launch

  Background

  NoFit State continued exploring outdoor performance and new structural materials through collaboration with Imagineer Productions and Orit Azaz.

  Action taken

  The company created BAMBOO around UK-grown bamboo structures, performance and storytelling.

  Aftermath

  BAMBOO became the company's current outdoor touring production.

  Source

• 2018

  Move back to a seated big-top format with LEXICONGeneration change

  Background

  After immersive productions such as Bianco and Tabú, the company identified a new touring format centered on a big top with fixed seating and staging.

  Action taken

  NoFit State created LEXICON as its first production in that format and launched it during Circus 250.

  Aftermath

  The tour was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and later resumed for a final run in 2021 and 2022.

  Source

• 2016

  Expand outdoor and international co-productionStrategy

  Background

  The company was developing work beyond the traditional touring big top and seeking new relationships with outdoor arts and dance-circus organisations.

  Action taken

  NoFit State co-produced BLOCK with Motionhouse through the Without Walls commissioning programme.

  Aftermath

  BLOCK toured for several years across the United Kingdom and internationally, including Asia and Australia.

  Source

• 2012

  Develop Bianco with the Eden ProjectProduct launch

  Background

  NoFit State sought to develop an immersive promenade production that could combine circus with an unusual environmental and architectural setting.

  Action taken

  The company partnered with the Eden Project to create Bianco: Time for Beauty.

  Aftermath

  The work was later redeveloped as Bianco: Turning Savage and became the company's longest-running production.

  Source

1. 1NoFit State Circusen.wikipedia.org
2. 2NoFit State Circus official websitenofitstate.org