With each issue we will let you in the stage doors of the circus and interview different members of the NoFit State family, from staff to trainees, riggers and performers. Find out who is involved behind the scenes.
This month Lee Tinnion, our newest trainee performer.
How did you get mixed up with NoFit State?
I'm from Newcastle originally, and had been involved in Boardroom skate park and did a lot of Parkour. When NoFit bought Parklife to Stockton, they got in touch with the park and a whole group of us went down to join in as community members. We took part over the week and got to perform in the final show.
Over the next two years NoFit State kept inviting me back to volunteer on the Parklife shows. I was doing my Maths degree at the time so filled my summers with circus.
Had you done any circus work before?
Not when I first got involved just Parkour. When I started uni, I joined the university circus society. I also worked with Circus Central which was my local training space.
What did you think when you saw the Trainee Performer opportunity advertised?
My first thought was that's a shame?! It was due to start in April and I didn' t graduate until June, so I thought I'd just have to wait and apply again a year later. Lucky for me a space opened up and I was able to join a few months later.
So maths to circus that's a pretty big jump!
I'd been looking for an opportunity like this for a while. I was always thinking if I could make a career out of Parkour or circus that'd be fantastic. Its great to have maths there as a back up in case I break myself and there are elements of it I'm really passionate about but this is what I want to be doing now.
What have you been up to since you started with NoFit State?
The first two weeks were pretty chilled getting to know each other, and then we went straight into a week's clown course with Angela Decastro. I hadn't heard of her before, but there was a lot of talk in the two weeks leading up to it and a real sense of anticipation about working with someone of that caliber.
Did it live up to the hype?
Yeah, it was a really good week. I learnt a lot about performance style and being present on stage. My training before had only focused on improving my skills and then stringing them together to form an act. This was the first time I had focused on creating a stage character. The strangest thing about the week was not doing any physical training. Towards the end of the week I had to go and do something physical: my body is just not used to staying still!
What have you been doing since then?
Along with training and performing in The Road , I have been working with the other trainee performers on some R&D for our own show ? Blocks?. It? s a work in progress that we hope to preview on February. It really suits me: it? s a combination of Parkour, acrobalance, and wall trampoline work.
What really excites you about the work you're doing at the moment?
I really like the trampoline work. I had done some when I was training in Newcastle but I could only practice trampoline occasionally. It? s really great to have the space to be able to focus on a skill. I also enjoy practicing trampoline rather than trying to fit it in around work or my degree.
What has been your favorite thing you have done so far as part of the traineeship?
Working on the Cabaret Collective was great: working with professionals performers, community member and trainees has been really interesting. and was something I didn? t get the chance to do when I was in Newcastle. It was anchallenging process but I enjoyed it.
I also enjoyed performing in the final show of Barricadein front of 10, 000 people. That was amazing! It was great to look out and see the whole ofthe town squarepacked. All of the audience were allseatedso it was like a giant picnic with Barricade in the middle!
So what? s next for you?
I would like to continue working on Blocksbut there is work to be done on it . In the mean time, I hope to perform in Bianco on tour. In my previous work, I'm used to rehearse performing a show once When touring you have to do the same performance night after night, so it? s going to be a challenge! I'm looking forward to it.
