PONTIO swings into action with another exciting feast of circus fun and entertainment.

The third Gwledd Syrcas Feast is a nine-day event dedicated to contemporary circus . It's on from Thursday, July 18 - Saturday, July 27, in Bangor and this year’s theme is The World At Our Feet. Headlining the festival is Circus Abyssinia, a contemporary circus company from Ethiopia which has performed all over the world, winning over critics and crowds at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Royal Variety Performance and has been on Blue Peter.

Pontio's Circus Feast launches on Thursday, July 18, at 1pm, with a colourful procession through Bangor High Street, which includes Glancegin, Glanadda, Hirael and Faenol school children. Also taking part are Circus Abyssinia performers and young musicians from Sistema Cymru – Codi’r To and Band Jazz Tryfan, led by Pontio’s youth participation programme, BLAS.

Headline show Ethiopian Dreams was inspired by the real-life story of brothers Bibi and Bichu Tesfamariam who founded Circus Abyssinia. Their adventure begins when the brothers realise their dream is a shared one, and they are joined by high-flying, contorting figures whose feats of daring awaken the possibility of the creation of an Ethiopian circus. The show delves into the rhythms and roots of Ethiopia’s musical and artistic traditions, to weave its story through death-defying tricks and feats of juggling, clowning and contortion, all performed to the irresistible beats of Ethiopian song.

For three of the nights (July 21, 22 and 23 July), the Circus Feast also features a giant projection on the outside of the Pontio building, after the main show after dark in a specially-commissioned piece, Abyssinia. Cimera premières its new production Drudwen, a dark modern fairytale with stunning aerial circus, physical comedy and live music on Tuesday, July 23 and Wednesday, July 24 July.

There are also circus skills workshops for the public, and free performances from Articulture, Cymru:Brasil, Inverted and Joan Català in Pontio’s indoor and outdoor spaces. Live music is from Banda Bacana, Elidyr Glyn, Gwilym Bowen Rhys, Gwenan Gibbard and folk music collectives Tant Canol and Avanc and Ethiopia-inspired daily specials and event menus throughout the circus feast.

Elen ap Robert, Pontio artistic director said: “We’ve been lucky enough to attract contemporary circus companies of the highest quality to Bangor over the past five years. Circus Abyssinia is another great headliner." See Gwledd Syrcas Feast Guide at www.pontio.co.uk or phone 01248 38 28 28. See: https://issuu.com/pontio/docs/pecyn_poced_2019_digital