Bristol Pride Circus Bigtop 2023

This year Bassline Circus and Guinness World Record holding circus artist, Symoné bring you an exciting programme celebrating diversity from outstanding performers within the community.  Challenging what you might expect to see inside a traditional circus tent expect voguing, contemporary circus and drag kings & queens! Our circus tent is a place to showcase diversity within the LGBT+ community and promote gender variance, sexual diversity and equal rights. Experience real stories being told through Circus, Dance, Spoken Word and Music. 

As well as workshops there will be two full show performances at 2pm and 5pm.

[ON AIR] Show 

Gliding through the sun soaked streets of the Uk this summer, pirate Radio hosts Barry Badass and ‘The Pussy Tamer’ aka Uncle Pete attempt to find the perfect vibration, connect to the sweet spot and get [ON AIR]! 

Featuring big ego’s,  local psychedelic reporters and Uncle Pete's magical belly - the crew surf the airwaves and try not to lose. the. siiigggnaaaaal!

[ON AIR] is a visual radio show that explores themes of fantasy, masculinity and blacksploitation. Its co-created by Drag King performer’s Symoné, Porcha Present and Nina Bowers in collaboration with scenographers MHz

[ON AIR] commissioned by Four Nations Outdoor arts bursary and is supported by Bassline Circus and Bristol Pride

Symoné Performer+ Co Director is queer an alternative circus and performance artist

Barry Badass (b. 1960, still stuck in '87), a time-traveling smoozy mother-fella from Chicago. A character inspired by Blacksploitation, and B movie heros and the civil rights activist. Barry owns a queer cabaret club and is a political and outspoken genderfuck who has a passion for LGBTQI+, black and sex workers rights. He also has a thing for guns and loves a good farmers market"

Porsha Present  (Drag King Performer + deviser) 

Multi-disciplinary artist, performer and shape-shifter Porscha Present has a deep heart soaked in beautiful melancholic harmonies. They play with clown-like characters that push boundaries and address the ego. Their compositions and rituals theme around the romanticization of life, counterbalanced with a true expression from the core.

Classically trained pianist, Porscha brings their musical skill to their drag + performance. Whether it is blasting notes through a melodica as their drag king alter-ego 'The Pussy Tamer' or singing sweet, sultry vocals with breathwork that pulls the audience into their world. They work in the music, immersive, cabaret, drag and kink scenes sprinkling a little magic as go.

‘The Pussy Tamer’ aka Uncle Pete is the lovable drunk you see serving up unhinged joy at parties and, encouraging chaos at music events. Pete trained in classical piano and a curiosity for escapism had him enjoying fruitful parties, that fuelled his addictive personality. Born in the late 60s, he has complications with accepting parts of his sexuality, lack of sexual experience and hides a special gift powered by his large, magical belly. Inspired by the blaxploitation era, sex-pop icons through the ages and modern depictions of the southern American black man.

Porscha is currently part of drag king collective HAUS of DONS

Nina Bowers/Sonny Delight BIO (Drag King Performer + deviser) 

Nina Bowers AKA Sonny Delight is Drag King, Theatre Maker, Actor and Dancer. Sonny Delight is a climate conscious king, with an afro-psychedelic aesthetic.  As Sonny Delight Nina has performed with;Drag Kings of Soho, Man Up XL, Kings of Clubs, The Family Jewels Drag, and Pecs, at a variety of venues including The National Theatre, and Mighty Hoopla. Nina trained on the BA Acting and Collaborative and Devised Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Graduated in 2017.As well as working as an actor Nina has devised a number of solo shows and developed many theatre projects performing her work at, Camden People's Theatre,The Yard and the ICA.Nina is Currently a participant on Julies’ Bicycle’s Colour Green Lab which seeks to educate artists and performers about the Climate Emergency. Nina is a classically trained Dancer and has been an active (walking) member of the London Ballroom Scene for a year .The past year Nina has won 3 grand prizes on the Kiki Scene  as well as walking Major Balls in Paris and London.

​​Bex Anson [co-director + designer]

www.m-hz.co.uk

AFRO TWERKSHOP by Bunmi

These workshops will teach you loosen your waist and hips and move your bottom to afrobeats music. No experience necessary, just come and have some fun.

Open to all ages and abilities.

ACTS

BUNMI 

Bunmi Odumosu is a UK based physical performance artist, working with dance and multiple aerial disciplines, such as aerial straps, trapeze, and rope.

Bunmi has performed in various UK based cabarets and theatre productions. She brings a wealth of passion and energy to all of her performances and uses movement as a form of expression. She often loves to share a taste of her African roots in her acts, showing how the African drums moves her body organically.

One interesting fact about Bunmi is that, when she is not performing on stage, she is a scientist in the daytime working as a chemical engineer.

ERNEST - HOST 

Ernest is THE posh-boy-party-prince always serving face and fashion. It must now be Bristol’s worst-kept secret that he’s got an absolutely massive penchant for partying with the queers. Despite his daddy telling him to stop with all the scandals, this dashing dandy continues to make headlines for his booty-shaking brand of anti-Tory revelry and chaos.

CocoGymnaasty

CocoGymnaasty is as naasty as they come! Coco is of spiritual belief, Queer, Black of Jamaican descent, proudly born & bred in Bristol, UK an artist. Also a Co-creator of Ballroom Baby Bristol. Effortlessly stylish, beautiful and hilarious, she puts her heart and soul into all that she does. Her energy is absolutely infectious, and watching her perform will completely captivate you into her energy field.

GENDER CRIMINAL 

Gender Criminal is a hyper-pop aerial faerie Prinx who always wanted to run away to the circus... UNTIL HE BECAME ONE. He'll take you on a surreal serenade through the randy rambunctious rumblings of gender, queer culture and transdimensional body politic.

APEROL FRITZ

Rhiannon Rose (she/they) is an LGBTQ+ multidisciplinary performer and aerialist who uses theatre, movement and circus to tell stories. They enjoy creating entertaining characters, and their drag king persona APEROL FRITZ (he/they) was born out of a love for the flamboyant, new-romantic, gender-bending aesthetic. He is here, queer, and ready to quench your thirst! 

With thanks to our Circus Partner: The Co-op.