Fel un o sylfaenwyr NoFit State, mae Tom, yn hoffi honni nad yw erioed wedi cael swydd go iawn yn ei fywyd. Mae ganddo gefndir mewn perfformio stryd, a gradd yn y celfyddydau rhyngweithiol, ac mae wedi bod wrth wraidd datblygiad y cwmni dros y 25 mlynedd diwethaf. Fel cyfarwyddydd artistig NoFit State, mae Tom yn gyfrifol am gymaint o bethau fel ei fod, erbyn hyn, yn dechrau teimlo ychydig fel swydd go iawn.
Originally from mid Wales, Alison has spent the last 25 years working with a wide range of companies and organisations from Narodno Pozoriste Subotica to Brith Gof to the Boilerhouse Project.
She first met NoFit State in the late ‘90s when she worked as producer on one of the company’s first large community productions - Prophecy. She then spent several years on the company’s Board before joining the company fulltime as Executive Director in 2006.
Since then she has seen the company grow and develop and acquire its first permanent home - Four Elms.
Her vision is to support NoFit State to become a truly sustainable company that liberates the creative spirit and inspires ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
Above all though she is proudest of her daughter - now working as a nurse in an incredibly busy hospital – doing more every day to make the world a better place than most of us achieve in a lifetime.
Ali Williams is one of the co-founders and former creative directors of NoFit State.
Over the past 30 years with the company she has been a performer, fundraiser, community director, and creative producer of many NoFit State shows including Immortal, Parklife & Barricade, Open House and BLOCK.
She was director of the Circus Development Agency from 2008-10 and has been an active member of the Circostrada European Circus and Street Arts network. Her interest has always been in using circus as a tool to improve communities and supports many social circus projects.
Ali was a member of Jugglers for peace, a group that toured Nicaragua and Cuba in the late 1980's. Jugglers for Peace became the inspiration for more organisations such Clowns Without Borders and Performers Without Borders who are continuing to work in war zones and areas of poverty.
In 2013, she completed a year’s sabbatical in Nepal where she worked with Circus Kathmandu, a social circus project that works with traffic survivors rescued from Indian circuses. With Circus Kathmandu, she produced 'Swagatam', a work that enabled the company to tour internationally in Norway, UK and Australia.
As well as producing professional shows, she believes in engaging with communities and giving them opportunities to take part in performances alongside the production’s professional team. Ali supports circus companies and promoters in an advisory capacity, having been on the Roundhouse circus advisory board and the artistic advisory board for Circolombia. She has also mentored emerging companies and is passionate about supporting trainees and emerging artists to develop their talents.
Though Ali focuses on contemporary creations she loves the traditional circus lifestyle of traveling and living outdoors with a community who share a common vision.
Since leaving NoFit State in 2016, Ali has continued her work with Aman and Renu, two performers from Kathmandu, on 'As A Tiger In The Jungle', a powerful work that explores and their incredible story. The show toured the UK and Europe.
Camille's career begins in Scotland following her encounter with Chloë Dear (Boilerhouse & Iron Oxide) with whom she will work for 7 years on a variety of projects: 3600 seconds (Boilerhouse & Metaolovice), La Banda Europa (Small is Beautiful), Feet First (Edinburgh Hogmanay), Cargo (Edinburgh Mela) to name a few.
A three year stop over in France saw Camille at the side of Metalovoice promoting a number of their shows then alongside Transe Express supporting their transition into creation space La Gare à Coulisses and the tours of their spectacular aerial shows (Maudits Sonnants, Les Rois Faignants). Following her heart back to the UK Camille has now been part of the NoFit State team for 8 years, leading on the tour booking of all productions and international development as well as being involved in the company's artistic journey.
Tim joined NoFit State in 1990 - first as tent master, later in many roles, but always behind the scenes.
Today Tim is the company Health and Safety Officer and manages NoFit State’s touring box office and front of house teams. He is the only person in the world to have seen all 986 performances of Immortal, tabú, Labyrinth, and Bianco - and to have personally welcomed all 355,634 members of the audience for all 986 performances into the tent.
Two of his proudest moments are running the box office in French in Avignon and the feedback from the eight people in wheelchairs who came to the show in Antwerp.
With a background in community regeneration and community arts Bethan first encountered NoFit State in a warehouse in Butetown at one of their early shows, Autogedden.
Bethan originally studied fine art photography. After working in community arts for a couple of years, she returned to complete her post-compulsory PGCE. She then became a college lecturer, teaching photography and life drawing and from there she moved on to work in the community regeneration sector where she completed her Masters in Community Regeneration, and discovered a natural aptitude for fundraising.
Bethan joined NoFit State as the company’s Development Manager in 2012 and now, as Head of Development, she oversees fundraising, corporate sponsorship and charitable donations to support NoFit State’s performance and community work.
A wannabee domestic goddess - her passions are cakes, her wife Clare, and canines - and the company completely depends on her ability to singlehandedly create a bake sale at a moment’s notice from a caravan in a rain storm.
@BethanTGamble
Becca joined NoFit State in 2015 as a work experience placement in the production team for BIANCO. Now a few years later, she is the Tour Manager for LEXICON overseeing the big top touring company as they work and travel across the globe, as well as managing the Box Office and Front of House.
Originally Becca trained as a classical musician but spent more time managing concerts and events rather than performing in them. This then lead her into going to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to study an MA in Arts Management. It was through this degree that she was first introduced to NoFit State.
Over the last few years with the company Becca has worked on various shows and projects including BIANCO, BLOCK and LEXICON as well as the Bryn Aber community project, the opening show for the LetniLetna Festival in Prague, the Big Splash in Newport and children’s circus workshops in Germany.
She has spent her time with the company working on all aspects of shows and events, from managing the finances to planning the travel logistics to working behind the bar during the shows and loves every part of the travelling circus lifestyle.
Matt is the production manager overseeing the LEXICON tour
Lizzy joined NoFit State as Company Administrator in August 2015, having worked at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for many years. Whilst there, she participated in the Step Change programme with Crying Out Loudwhich opened her eyes to the marvellous world of circus, contemporary performance and producing. When she moved to Cardiff she spotted NFS and thought she’d rather like to work with them – all the things she loves in a job – and here she is! Even before she started at NoFit, BIANCO had blown her away, she’d seen and participated in Open House with a 5mth old baby strapped to her front, and without even realising it saw Immortal in London over a decade ago. She’s delighted to be on board and since being here she’s surprised herself with her hula hoop abilities and us with her white-van-man accent.
Kate is a London-born circus artist and aerialist. She started her professional life working in Public Health in the NHS, giving her a lot of experience of partnership work and project management. However, after being introduced to circus through attending community classes, she realised it also had a lot to offer to the well-being and happiness of people.
She decided that this was really her calling and promptly ran away with the circus. She was awarded a place at the National Center for Circus Arts (NCCA) and is one of the first ever in the UK to graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Circus Arts, specializing in swinging trapeze.
Since then she has worked for a number of touring tented circuses across Europe, festivals, corporate events and taught circus to adults and children, the London Youth Circus, and taught on the first Btec in circus at the NCCA. In between contracts, she has furthered her professional development by spending periods in Montreal working with Cirque du Soleil coach Victor Fomine, known for pushing boundaries of possibility and developing new techniques for swinging trapeze and it’s coaching.
This amazing journey into circus has now brought her to glittering sunny Cardiff to manage and develop the community programme of NFS.
Olga’s passion for circus has emerged from her love of theatre. She is interested in the creative process from a perspective of a performer and a director. She studied Theatre and Drama at Jagiellonian University in Krakow. One Monday morning, unimpressed with the post-communist model of the theatre industry, she felt like leaving. She was gone on Wednesday…
In 2008, she moved to Cardiff and began training as an aerialist at NoFit State. She graduated from Circomedia in 2015, specialising in Corde Lisse and Physical Performance. The degree gave her an extensive understanding of circus technique and its context within the contemporary performing arts industry as well as excellent compendium of tools for devising work in variety of styles, which includes clowning, grotesque and physical theatre.
As an artist she is interested in creating performances that engage with social and political issues that simultaneously explore artistic concepts, representing the balanced coexistence of form and content. She also loves club passing, stand up comedy and board games. She is an artistic facilitator for The Meeting Lab and co-runs The Bad Egg Theatre Company.
Wendy is our Finance Officer. She keeps the NoFit State boat afloat and makes everyone happy on payday.
Wendy joined the company in 2008 and manages to juggle her growing family with the company’s ever growing financial complexity and the demands of keeping a tribe of circus performers in check.
Wendy was born in Sarawak, Malaysia, and moved to the UK in 2000 to study ACCA accountancy. She became a fully-qualified accountant in 2005 and before joining NoFit State she worked for Snap Cymru.
In her spare time, Wendy enjoys cooking and simply relaxing with her three beautiful children in Trefforest after a hard day’s work in the NoFit office.
Jo has been part of the NoFit State family for years and she is now our exceptional Head of Reception.
Having always believed that Mums make the best jugglers, Jo quickly realised that Receptionists were even better when she joined the team in 2015. Since then she has been practising the art of Hat Juggling between Reception, Finance Assistant, Safeguarding Officer and Circus Mum, and is now a master of the art!
Rachel is an Irish Artist, Performer & Producer based in Cardiff. She has been involved with the company in many different guises* since 2011 and enthusiastically joined the Board in 2016. She is particularly interested in the uniqueness of the company in regards to its community class programme, community engagement/ outreach work and company ethos.
Rachel holds a BA (Hons) Performing Arts & Theatre Studies, is currently an Associate Artist with both Doppelgangster and Happy in My Skin and has been the Stage Coordinator for the annual community arts festival madeinroath, since 2012.
Her favourite nofitstate moment has been discovering her Clown through the nofitstate Community programme back in 2011; changing her artistic outlook and allowing play to inhabit all aspects of her life.
*class member, Christmas cabaret performer, audience member, supporter, artist, festival coordinator, BLOCK painter, emergency receptionist, dog walker, first aider, party planner, tbc..
Sam Goodburn, a 23 year old Circus Performer from Bournemouth, UK is the overall winner of three different national circus competitions; Circus Maximus 'Search for the UK's Best Circus Act' (2015), Freestyle Unicycle Championships (current) and the Under 21 Juggling Competition (2012).
Teaching himself circus from the age of 11 Sam has not studied at any circus school and instead been performing as circus artist full time since he finished school.
Sam has had already had a colourful career in the different pockets of the circus industry, working as the clown in a traditional circus, a ringmaster at corporate events, toured with the BBC's 'Mr. Tumble Circus' arena tour and NoFit State shows 'Taking the air' and 'Open House', performed as a street entertainer at Glastonbury Festival and in 2017 produced his first one hour circus-theatre show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Sam's range of experience gives him unique understanding of traditional and contemporary circus.
Rosa was born in 1993 in Konstanz, Germany. After her parents moved to Portugal she followed
primary and secondary education there until it was time to decide her profession.
With 16 years, Rosa discovered a Circus School in Lisbon, made the audition and entered.
Since then she has been practicing circus arts.
After 3 years of study at the professional school of circus arts and craft, EPAOE – Chapitô, Rosa
continued her circus education at ESAC (École Supérieure des Arts du Cirque) in Brussels, from
were she graduated with her own act, « Double Cordes ».
Specialized in aerial ropes with more than 7 years of experience, she developed a high technical
level together to her own personal style.
Her work has been strongly influenced by the social aspect, in which she will continue to develop
her body language, personal and universal art.
During her recent artistic career she has been collaborating with different organizations and
companies, such as : Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Hong-Kong Arts Centre, Cie. Feria Musica, GOP
Varieté Hannover, Circusplaneet Gent, Das Zelt.
And has presented her work at international circus meetings and other artistic events like the
«Ursino Buskers Festival » in Catania (IT), « Secret Places Festival » in Maastricht (NL), the « X
Encuentro de Malabaristas y Artistas de Circo » Convention in Zaragoza (ES), the « BLN CRCS
FSTVL » Circus Festival in Berlin (DE), « Festival PERPLX » (BE), « Mezopotamian Circus
Festival » (TU)...
Vilhelmiina Sinervo is a circus artist from Finland. She started circus at the age of 14 and has been doing it ever since. She graduated from University of Turku in 2014 and from Académie Fratellini in 2017 with a Bachelor degree.. Her main discipline is slack rope, but she can work on various disciplines. She enjoys trying new things, working with people and finding solutions in problems. NoFit State is her first step to professional circus life. Vilhelmiina is currently living in Finland and France.
Mathieu Hedan est né le 06/9/1984 à Martigues
Après des études en Ukraine au Collège of Variety and Circus Arts avec son maître Mr Vitold Antonovitch , il donne place à la recherche
Intéressé par la danse et après un an de cours intensifs et workshops ,il intégre le Centre National des Arts du Cirque à Chalons en Champagne où il développe son langage corporel et artistique.
Diplômé du CNAC, il intègre la compagnie Pré-o-ccupé pour le spectacle de Nikolaus"Tout est bien" mise en scène par Christian Lucas
Mathieu Hedan travaille également pour des cabarets et pour différents événements ou festivals , dans des créations collectives ou en solo.
Depuis maintenant 10 ans en tant qu'équilibriste, il travaille régulièrement avec des chorégraphes de renommée comme Rachid Ouramdane , Dominique Boivin ,Perrine Valli ou Yann Lheureux.
Il travaille pour de nombreuses compagnies de rue et salle pour tous types d'évenementiels
Il continue à proposer différents workshop autour de sa matière ( l'équilibre et le mouvement ) en france et à l'étranger
Il travaille en tant que technicien sur de nombreux évènements
Il est actuellement en création pour la nouvelle création Lexicon de la compagnie galloise No Fit State pour 2018
Il est actuellement en cours de création pour des projets en solo
Luke is a London bred circus artist. He graduated the National Centre for Circus arts (NCCA) in 2015 with a first class honors degree and went on to study at Le Lido Centre des Arts du Cirque du Toulouse.
Alongside the creation and tour of Lexicon Luke is conducting a research project on creative language within circus, is touring with his own company 'London beaches' and touring his own solo piece 'just.what.'
Lisa was born in Tuscany (Italy) and fell in love with music and theatre as a child. After a degree in literature from the University of Pisa, she trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London in Advanced Theatre Practice. She then cofounded Fye and Foul, a company that explores theatre in the dark and immersive sound.
Lisa has been a member of ELAN Frantoio since 2005, training in performing, music and movement and working both as a performer and musician nationally and internationally.
My name is Conor Pelan. I trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I started playing guitar at 11, when my parents bought me a cheap Yamaha beginner’s guitar. I always loved playing and found it was something cathartic about playing and singing that I could connect with that I wasn’t really finding anywhere else. I mainly just played by myself for years, writing awful songs and singing as loud as I could until I was told to please keep it down by everyone. When I was 13 years old I heard the song, ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ by Bob Dylan and distinctly remember it having a massive effect on me as it was the first time I really heard music. That then began my journey into listening to a range of folk such as Neil Young, Towns Van Zandt, Joni Mitchell, which took me into the other genres of those decades of music, such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Who, The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison. For years I was absolutely captivated by British and American music from those decades and still am to a huge degree. I also started playing harmonica with the guitar and singing during this time, plagiarised massively from the Bob Dylan influence. I was in a series of awful bands then for the next few years. However after about 17 though I went on playing solo guitar and writing and only doing solo concerts in bars and events. For the next three years I performed like this until I was asked to join a folk/bluegrass/blues band that was in its early stages called No Oil Paintings. It was a huge experience for me, because unlike the other times, these musicians were very serious and talented. The experience was great, realising my own faults and where I lacked skills, such as timing, dynamics and harmonies. Also looking after my own equipment and realising what it’s like to be part of an ensemble of musicians. We did concerts together for about two years, starting off in packed drunken pubs, doing open mic nights, running our own nights and playing festivals. It was a great experience of living on the road on fish and chips and cigarettes and doing small tours around the North of Ireland where I’m from and making money for our craft. Sadly I had to leave though once I got accepted into the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to start a BA in Acting in Cardiff. While I was here I learnt that some people work professionally as an actor musician and I realised that was something I wanted to do. We were given vocal lessons once a week for the three years, the first year as part of a class and the second year as individual singing lessons. These were a fantastic opportunity for me as I had never had singing lessons before and though my teacher enjoyed my passion for singing, she wanted me to work on the technique that had been neglected for years. I was very lucky as I had a teacher who didn’t want to change my sound but just give me more control over it. For those three years I worked on my singing warm ups every day for half an hour and was able to get the control that I never had. Now I’ve graduated I work as an actor musician in Cardiff. I think working with the No Fit State ensemble will be massively beneficial to me, the next chapter of moving up to a whole new level of professional standard. A long way from that £108 acoustic guitar when I was 11.
Manjula is a freelance business psychologist and executive/career coach. She attended school and university in Cardiff and trained in Human Resources.
Her first brush with NoFit State was memorably back in 2005 at their performance in the Oval Basin in Cardiff Bay. She was wowed then and continues to seek to involve herself and support an organisation that contributes in such a unique way to both the world of art and the local community.
As a trustee, Manjula contributes to the people aspects of the business to identify and nurture business talent and potential within the NFSC family.
George is a Performance artist, Circus performer, Outdoor theatre maker, Cruise ship entertainer, Former Mascot, ex Drag performer, Current Co-Creator of Mary Bijou Cabaret and Social Club, Director, and Teacher but most of all...and with out a doubt he is a clown.
George has worked with NoFit as a preformer in the past and joined the board in 2015.
Yvette has always worked in the arts. She started in West Wales in community arts (one of the original Dyfed Dance animateurs), moved from there to Cardiff, where she worked for the Arts Council of Wales as Drama Officer. This is where she first came in touch with NoFit State and memorably could not give them a grant - it was pre-lottery and there was no spare money for projects then - but she did give them a training grant and money to bring in new talent and has had a keen interest in the company since then. She set up Wales Arts International, a partnership between the Arts Council of Wales and the British Council aiming to help organisations sell their work abroad and attract good work into Wales.
She then was a Policy Manager at the Wales European Centre in Brussels where she saw a lot of circus and performance. Back to Wales, she wrote Cardiff’s bid for European Capital of Culture – we didn’t win but we were close- and then to London to take on the role of Chief Executive of Visiting Arts (where she still works but lives in Cardiff). Going to see Immortal at the Roundhouse hooked her back into the Company. When the opportunity to become the Chair of NoFit State came up she threw her hat into the ring. It has been exciting, challenging and she will do her best to help the Company steer a great course over the next few years.
Having been in the industry for too many years to count I think it’s fair to say that when it comes to issues facing growing businesses I’ve been there done that and bought the t-shirt!
My career has been an interesting one and as well as my current role at Grant Thornton I have worked at Deloitte, Haskins and Sells, later to become PwC. I have dealt with Tax Investigations as an ex Inspector of Taxes and I have provided a wealth of commercial tax and expansion advice to both growing businesses and stakeholders.
This professional experience along with my personal connection with the company as a youth circus parent means I am able to bring a fresh perspective as a trustee to help drive NoFit State’s talent management.
Born in Grenoble (French Alps), Joachim was introduiced to heights at an early age by his mountain guide father. He became interested in climbing, speleology, and vertical dance, occasionally performing shows with his father at "Aussibal & cie". He continued to persue his interests into college where he studied outdoor sports.
After high school, he worked in the mountains as a ski patrol officer for two years and learnt straps and rope, later working with Les Studios de Cirque with the shows Place des Anges and Circo da Madrugada. Joachim has spent two years touring the world and performing at international festivals and is loving circus life. In 2013 he joined Flic circus school in Italy where he specialised in ropes, acrobatics and teeterboard.
Starting out with traditional circus from Norwich to New Zealand, Lyndall became established in modern touring circus in the UK and later branched out internationally. He was highly trained in swinging trapeze by Viktor Fomine in Montreal and Juliette Hardy-Donaldson from Duo Vertigo/High Performance/Circus Space, London. Lyndall began his training at Circomedia in Bristol, where he gained inspiration and first experiences of flying from Mike Wright.
Some of his many harness shows have included The Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver, X-Factor for Sony Music, 77 MTA Qatar and ETA with Bassline Circus and Studio de Cirque de Marseille. Often his role as performer has overlapped with rigger, giving an extra dynamic to shows with human counter-weighting, abseiling and traverses.
Blaze's first encounter with circus was when her mum cooked for the juggling convention blaze occupied herself and learn't to unicycle in just a week, little did she know that her mum would the go and tour with nofitstate as there permanent chef. Touring with Nofit State changed Blaze’s aspirations, she left school to attend Circomedia, circus and performance arts college. She then continued to study at Circomedia in which she specialized in Physical Theater and Aerial. During her studying she also perform for many different events such as , Cirque Bijou at the Colston Hall Bristol, Emerald ensemble, The swing thing Invisible circus, The big top at Glastonbury other festivals across England, Blaze also performed in Nofit State’s show Labyrinth at the Eden Project.
Rosa found her way into the circus at the age of 5 in a local youth circus called Sorin Sirkus in Tampere Finland, where she learned the basics of different circus disciplines like pyramids and skipping ropes.
As her main discipline Rosa chose foot juggling. Rosa graduated from art oriented high school in 2012 and left to Voionmaa Institute for a one year to study acting.
In 2014 she was accepted to a circus university called Ècole Superieure des Arts du Cirque (ESAC) in Brussels. In ESAC Rosa found her own personal style of manipulate foot juggling objects, mixing a new hand manipulation and traditional foot juggling technic with a spice of theatrical play. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in June 2017.
After school she joined to NoFit State Circus for their new creation, Lexicon. Rosa is also one of the founders of a Finnish contemporary circus company called Sirkum Polaris and their first show called 'Kulovalkea' will premier in 2019.
Libby Spencer has been freelancing as a Stage, Events and Production Manager for the last 10 years. This is her 2nd BIANCO tour with No Fit State. Her background is in Live Events, Festivals and Music Production.
Libby attended The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama where she got her degree in Theatre Practice. She now also teaches Stage Management at RCSSD. Libby's main goal is to be able to do a forward roll and five star jumps in a row.
Luca is a contemporary circus artist who attended the Vertigo circus school in Turin, Italy before enrolling with ESAC high school in Brussels.
Luca specialises in Chinese pole, juggling and acrobatics. He joined NoFit State in 2018 to perform in LEXICON.
Very energetic from a young age, Fabian first started with swimming and karate. While continuing to progress in these sports, at the age of 8 years old he fell into the ring of circus and was blown away by the endless possibilities to innovate and share.
Enjoying throwing objects in the air, moving his body with fluidity and always hungry for excitement, the desire to become a circus artist appeared quickly. Supported by his family at age of 16 he decided to take off and begin his artistic career. After a Europe tour, he flew to Montreal to integrate the prestigious « National circus school » where he have graduated.
Curious by nature, he is multidisciplinary circus artist who likes innovating. Inspired by everything that is around him to recreate his disciplines and amaze his audience’s. The circus appears to him as a world of infinite potential to express on stage the many facets of what is happening in our imaginary universe. Aware that a number is a unique moment for the spectators, he gives his all to amaze and visually captivate them. With this in mind it is his initial goal to offer as much as possible on the world stage, and in the streets, while remaining passionate and always enjoying himself.
Nicoló is a circus artist who specialises in Base and Risley. He joined the NoFit State family in 2018 to perform in the company's brand new show, LEXICON.
Junior in a circus artist from Brazil, who has been touring with NoFit State for over 3 years, beginning his journey as performer and rigger in the Firenza Guidi-directed Bianco before moving on to rig and perform in the company's new show, Lexicon in 2018.
Pauline has been working around musicians and theatre companies since age of 16.
After studying cultural management and rural development in France, she has been involved in many artistic projects in France and the United States in many positions (producer, tour booker, PR, designer, marketing manager, assistant rigger, cook...).
She met No Fit State Circus in 2013 in Brighton where she was only supposed to stay for a few weeks of volunteering and ended up staying for the whole tour! As she fell in love with the circus life, Pauline has been exploring loads of different jobs in the company like assistant cook, bartender or assistant producer.
In Lexicon, Pauline added another string to her bow, performing as a singer in LEXICON.
Ac yntau wedi'i eni yn Newcastle, daeth Lee o gefndir yn parkour cyn symud i syrcas yn 2009. Hyfforddodd mewn amrywiaeth o feysydd wrth astudio ar gyfer ei radd mathemateg ym Mhrifysgol Newcastle, gan adeiladu sylfaen gadarn mewn tumbling, acrobalance, trampolin wal a jyglo. Wrth gwblhau'r rhaglen hyfforddai a dwy flynedd o gwmpas Bianco gyda NoFit State Lee aeth ymlaen i adeiladu ar y sgiliau hyn ac eraill ac mae'n hapusaf wrth gyfuno setiau sgiliau. Fe'i canfyddir yn aml yn ystyried patrymau jyglo mathemategol a datrys ciwbiau Rubik.
Teaches - Hula Hoop, Aerial and Youth Circus
I started circus at NoFit’s Youth Circus at the age of 15, after a year I moved to Bristol to study on Circomedia’s BTEC course specialising in Aerial Rope, and then after graduation I went on to study Handbalancing at the National Centre for Circus Arts before becoming a trainer for NFS.
Teaches: Handbalance, Youth Circus
Eric McGill is a Canadian swinging trapeze artist based in the United Kingdom. Eric started his acrobatic career at the age of seven as a competitive trampolinist. In 2010 Eric graduated from the National Circus School in Montreal. With his swinging trapeze and aerial straps acts he has worked in cabarets, big tented shows and large outdoor festivals around the world including Germany, Mexico, Australia, Canada, and the UK to name a few.
Teaches: Static Trapeze, Aerial Straps, and Swinging Trapeze.
Performed in: Taking the Air (2014), Open House (2015)
A Cardiff born fluent Welsh speaker, trained at Greentop Circus in 1997, Polichinelo Circus in 2000 and then graduated with a first class honours from the National Centre of Circus Arts, (then known as The Circus Space) in 2003.
She performed in two of NoFit State’s community shows before joining the company as a professional in 2004. She has been a trainer on the youth circus programme since 2011 and leads many outreach projects.
Teaches: Juggling, Manipulation & Balance
Performed in: ImMortal Community show in Bute Park 2002, Splott on the Landscape Oct 2003, ImMortal - Coming Out Alive 2004, Christmas Cabaret 2013
Native Cornishman, Karlos, has worked with NoFit State on many productions including ImMortal, Bianco and more recently Lexicon.
Wedi'i eni yn Saint Catherine Town yn Jamaica. Wrth astudio celfyddyd gain yng Ngholeg Celf Caerdydd, dechreuodd Kevin hyfforddi mewn cerdded stilt, tân yn troi a thrapecio gyda Splott Community Community Circus, cyn dod yn brentis ar daith gyntaf NoFit State o Immortal yn 2004. Ers hynny, mae wedi perfformio gyda'r cwmni yn Immortal , Tabu, Labyrinth, Mundo Paralelo - a Bianco. Mae bellach yn arbenigo mewn rhaff awyr. Mae hefyd wedi perfformio gyda'r Cwmni Cynhyrchu ar y sioe Cocophony ac mae Crashmat Collective yn un o diwtoriaid rheolaidd NoFit State yng Nghaerdydd ac mae hefyd yn athro dawnsiwr a salsa.
Ar ôl astudio am BA (anrhydedd) ac MA mewn Llenyddiaeth Saesneg a Theori Beirniadol, aeth Hannah i ysgol ddrama i hyfforddi fel actor. Ers graddio, mae Hannah wedi ymgymryd â rolau clasurol mewn dramâu gan Shakespeare, Chekhov a Lorca gyda chwmnïau theatr amrywiol, yn ogystal â theatr, gwaith dyfeisgar, theatr gorfforol, llais trosglwyddo a ffilm fer.
Dechreuodd Hannah fynychu dosbarthiadau awyr yn NoFit State fel aelod o'r gymuned yn 2009 ac mae'n awr yn dysgu cylchdroi, rhaff a sidan. Perfformiodd Hannah am y tro cyntaf gyda NoFit State yn eu prosiect cymunedol 2013, Streets Alive / Open House. Fel perfformiwr, mae gan Hannah ddiddordeb arbennig mewn cyfuno gwaith testun, cân a llais gyda pherfformiad yr awyr.
Mae Orit yn gyfarwyddwr artistig, hwylusydd a meddylwr creadigol. Mae ei phrofiad yn cyfuno dyfeisio a chyfarwyddo perfformiadau a digwyddiadau ar raddfa fawr; creu cyd-destunau newydd ar gyfer cydweithio rhwng artistiaid a chymunedau; a hwyluso ymchwiliad creadigol a datblygu ffurfiau celf.
Yn gyntaf, cwrddodd NoFit State yn 1996. Ar y pryd, roedd ganddi ddiddordeb mewn creu profiadau promenâd trochi i gynulleidfaoedd mewn mannau anghyffredin, cyd-destunau a chymunedau; a gwehyddu gwahanol ffurfiau celf a chyfryngau mewn iaith theatr newydd. Mae'r ddau wedi canfod llawer yn gyffredin ac wedi gweithio gyda'i gilydd erioed, mewn amrywiaeth o berthnasoedd. Fel cydweithiwr creadigol, roedd Orit yn gyfarwyddwr trioleg Stepping Stones (1997 - 2002); a chyfarwyddwr artistig cyfnod newydd o waith awyr agored ar raddfa fawr (2009 - 2015) gan gynnwys Parklife, Barricade, Taking the Air ac Open House. O ran strategaeth a gweledigaeth y cwmni, roedd Orit yn rhan o dîm datblygu'r cwmni 1998 - 2002, a wasanaethodd fel aelod o Fwrdd yr Ymddiriedolwyr o 2004 a Chadeirydd rhwng 2006 a 2008 ac mae hefyd wedi cefnogi prosesau datblygu a gwerthuso creadigol.
Yn gyfochrog, mae Orit wedi gweithio ar amrywiaeth o brosiectau eraill, mawr a bach, gan gynnwys: cyfarwyddwr creadigol Portread of a Nation, ar gyfer Cwmni Diwylliant Lerpwl a Chronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri, fel penllanw blwyddyn Lerpwl fel Prifddinas Diwylliant Ewrop 2008; cyfarwyddwr Gwisgo Ffenestri gyda Windows Collective; cyfarwyddwr The Clock Strikes 20 ar gyfer Pifpaf; ac, yn fwyaf diweddar, gyfarwyddwr artistig Something Good fel rhan o ddathliadau 300 mlynedd pen-blwydd Birmingham Cathedral yn 2015.
Mae Orit Azaz yn eiriolwr ar gyfer y gymuned syrcas a chelfyddydau awyr agored yn y DU, gan hwyluso sgyrsiau creadigol, labordai a chynadleddau, gan gynnwys Circus Futures, Independent Arts Arts Network (ISAN UK), Arts Connect West Midlands, mac Birmingham a Creative Shift.
Dechreuodd Gemma berfformio yn y theatr a darganfod syrcas ar ôl graddio o'r ysgol ddrama. Dechreuodd gyda chwrs byr yn GENCO yn Llundain ac aeth ymlaen i astudio yn Circus Space lle roedd hi'n arbenigo mewn cylchdro awyr. Ers graddio mae hi wedi parhau i ddatblygu sgiliau mewn acrobateg, dillad llaw, rhaff, sidanau a stribedi o'r awyr.
Mae hi wedi hyfforddi fel gweithiwr proffesiynol NAD Fit pan fydd hi wedi bod yng Nghaerdydd dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf ond mae bellach wedi ymgartrefu yn y ddinas. Mae hi wedi bod yn addysgu ieuenctid yn yr ysgolion haf.
Perfformiwr/dawnsiwr gyda Motionhouse, ein cydweithredwyr ar BLOCK, yw Onyemachi.
Perfformiwr/dawnsiwr gyda Motionhouse, ein cydweithredwyr ar BLOCK, yw Joel.
Roedd artist syrcas o Loegr, Andy yn blentyn corfforol egnïol, yn ddeuddeg oed a dechreuodd dorri ar ôl. Yn ddiweddarach datblygodd ei alluoedd mewn symudiad i gynnwys parkour a rhedeg am ddim lle cafodd y rhan fwyaf o'i sgiliau acrobatig. Trwy hyfforddi gyda brwdfrydedd o berfformiad, fe'i cyflwynwyd i'r celfyddydau syrcas sy'n arwain at ddarganfod ei angerdd wrth law.
Dilynodd ei angerdd drwy'r holl ffordd i Baris, gan gofrestru yn Acadame Fratellini yn ysgol sefydledig a pharch i berfformwyr sy'n arbenigo mewn Hand to Hand, ar ôl graddio ehangodd ei sgiliau i gynnwys Cydbwyso â llaw a Stribed Awyr.
Perfformiwr ar BLOCK â ymunodd y sioe ar ei daith yn 2018.
Perfformiwr/dawnsiwr gyda Motionhouse, ein cydweithredwyr ar BLOCK, yw Rosie.
Mae Francis yn hyfforddwr syrcas, perfformiwr a chyfarwyddwr. Mae'n dysgu sgiliau traddodiadol o bob math, gan gynnwys jyglo, cerdded rhaff, Rolla Bola, beic un olwyn, cydbwysedd a thriniaeth yn ogystal â thechneg perfformiad a chlownio.
Yn y blynyddoedd cynnar (1980 / 90au), fe berfformiodd Francis ochr yn ochr â NoFit State, ac ers hynny, mae e wedi aros yn agos â'r cwmni.
Mae wedi perfformio yn y syrcas ers dros 38 mlynedd fel clown a rhaff-cerddwr, ac mae wedi teithio'n ledled y DU gyda'i sioe rhaff comig. Yn ystod y cyfnod yma, cynhaliodd Francis ysgolion syrcas a oedd yn cymryd rhan mewn dau o sioeau cynnar Gwladwriaethau NoFit a llawer o brosiectau ysgol eraill.
Yn 2017, cyfarwyddodd Francis y sioe syrcas Ieuenctid 'Circus 250 Years Young'
Mae'n dal i berfformio syrcas, ond am y pethau peryglus! Mae hefyd yn gweithio fel storïwr a cherddor.
Sylfaenydd a chyfarwyddwr artistig Motionhouse, ein cydweithwyr ar BLOC yw Kevin. Yn adnabyddus am ei gynyrchiadau deinamig, gweledol iawn sy'n integreiddio dawns, syrcas a thechnoleg ddigidol, mae e'n gyfrifol am yr arddull nodedig y mae Motionhouse yn enwog amdano.
Mae'n angerddol am archwilio a holi'r defnydd traddodiadol o le mewn perfformiad, sydd wedi arwain at greu corff gwaith helaeth a ddatblygwyd dros dri degawd. Fe'i comisiynir yn rheolaidd i ddatblygu sbectol dawns arbennig, yn fwyaf nodedig fel Cyfarwyddwr Choreograffydd a Symudiad Seremoni Agor Gemau Paralympaidd Llundain 2012.
Mae Paul wedi bod yn gydweithiwr â NoFit State ers peth amser, yn gyntaf fel perfformiwr, yna fel Cyfarwyddwr Syrcas a Choreograffydd ar gyfer y gwaith awyr agored, gan weithio gydag Orit Azaz ar: Barricade (2012), Streets Alive (Birmingham), Open House a'r posiect safle-seiliedig: Taking the Air.
Bu hefyd yn cyfarwyddo prosiect ymchwil a datblygu cychwynnol Block for NoFit State yn 2012/13 ac mae'n parhau fel Cyfarwyddwr Syrcas mewn cydweithrediad â Motion House. Mae Paul hefyd wedi cyfeirio a choreograffi nifer o brosiectau penodol a phrosiectau ieuenctid ar gyfer NoFit State.
Mae Paul yn Gyfarwyddwr Artistig gyda Crashmat Collective; cwmni sy'n ceisio torri'r ffiniau rhwng perfformiwr a chynulleidfa a chreu gwaith o wirionedd personol y perfformwyr. Eu gwaith yw: Fasâd, Siopwyr Myfyrio a Thynnu Wheelie (Gwaith ar y gweill). Yn 2014 sefydlodd fenter newydd: Flying Diplodocus, i gwmpasu agweddau ymchwil ei waith ac fe'i comisiynwyd ar gyfer: Yr wyf yn Anadlu yn ystod Diwrnod Cenedlaethol Paralympaidd / G?yl Liberty Arts 2014, a ariennir gan Sefydliad Elusennol Jerwood i gynnal ymchwil choreograffig i Aerial a Llais ac yn y broses o greu Peidiwch â Chrybwyll y F Word, darn Theatr Circus-Theatre yn ymwneud â rhyw.
Mae Paul yn parhau i weithio ar ei liwt ei hun fel cyfarwyddwr a choreograffydd ac yn ymchwilio i brosesau creu newydd ar gyfer syrcas. Mae'r credydau'n cynnwys: Cyfarwyddwr Syrcas - Puffball - Y T? Crwn: Cyfarwyddwyd gan Mark Storor; Cyfarwyddwr a Choreograffydd - Swagatam - Circus Kathmandu; Cyfarwyddwr Syrcas - Planetary - Pif Paf: Cyfarwyddwyd gan Helen Parlor; Hwylusydd - The Thread Thread - Whispering Woodfolk; Ymgynghorydd Circus - Dim Diafol wedi'i Gwylio - Gr?p Opera Mahogany: Cyfarwyddwyd gan Frederic Wake-Walker ...
Gyda chefndir mewn perfformiad a sgiliau awyrol, gall Paul ddod ag ymagwedd unigryw at Circus Cyfoes a Theatr Syrcas, sy'n rhoi syrcas yn nghanol y creuadigaeth, ac yn gwthio perfformwyr a chynulleidfaoedd mewn ffyrdd newydd.
Abdul Shayek is the Artistic Director & Joint CEO of Tara Arts. Abdul was previously founding Artistic Director & CEO of Fio, Abdul is also an opera director with WNO and has worked with ENO.
He is a former Creative Associate of National Theatre Wales where he oversaw the companies research and development strand and delivered the 'Assembly' programme (a series of performance debate events) across Wales and beyond.
Abdul is a member of British Council's Arts and Creative Economy a steering group, a Clore Cultural Leadership Fellow (2013-14), vice-chair of the National Alliance for Arts in the Criminal Justice System, as well as being a trustee of mid-Wales dance company Impelo.
Lisbeth McLean is the Chief Officer of Menter Iaith Merthyr Tudful, a third sector organisation that works to increase the use of Welsh in the community. She led a town centre regeneration project in Merthyr Tydfil to develop Canolfan a Theatr Soar a Welsh language hub at the heart of its community.
Lis is a community leader who has grasped the opportunity during the Covid pandemic to make sure the voice of her community is heard. She is a member of the Welsh Culture Alliance and was recently part of the What Next? Cymru working group that wrote ‘a Cultural Manifesto for Recovery’. Lis believes that collaboration and communication are key to sector and covid recovery.
Growing up in the cultural melting pot of Croydon, Ed has held a lifelong fascination with the ways in which people express themselves and stick out from the crowd. Naturally, the pursuit of this fascination led to a (semi) successful stint as a rock musician throughout his formative years.
Alas, all good things come to an end as he soon swapped South London for South Wales, first studying Journalism at Cardiff University before compounding his debt with a Master’s in PR and Communications.
Having spent eighteen months familiarising himself with Cardiff’s artistic community at the Sherman Theatre, Ed has joined the NoFit State team in 2019 to assist with all things development.