We are recruiting! 20 Stories High are looking for new Artistic Leadership

After 20 years of hard work and success, co-founder Keith Saha will be stepping down in 2026 to pursue making new kinds of theatre with and for adult audiences. 20 Stories High is now entering a new era and inviting fresh artistic leadership to help shape our next chapter. We are looking for artistic leadership to work alongside our Co-CEO/Executive Director that can drive the company forward with ambitious, excellent and equitable theatre and art for culturally diverse and working-class young people and young adults.

We’re not prescribing a job title or specific structure for the role. Instead, we are sharing the personal and professional key essentials for the job, and inviting you to bring your own vision of artistic leadership to the table. What matters most is that you are aligned with our values, committed to co-creation with young people and communities, and ready to lead with creativity, integrity, and care. Our current programme takes us into 2026, and beyond that we have so many discoveries to make.

To apply, please head to our website: 20storieshigh.org.uk Application Deadline: Monday 3rd November, 9am Accessibility We are committed to making this recruitment process as accessible as possible. All the recruitment documents are available in a variety of formats, however, if you require the information in a different format to what is available, please get in touch with: recruitment@20storieshigh.org.uk 0151 708 9728

20 Stories High are looking for new
Artistic Leadership!

They'll work alongside our Co-CEO/Executive
Director & drive the company forward with
ambitious, excellent & equitable theatre & art for
culturally diverse, working-class young people &
communities.

www.20storieshigh.org.uk/artistic-lea...

A young white woman wearing a white t-shirt, dark jeans and trainers is walking through a hall. Her arms are outstretched from the elbows with her fingers wide as if she is explaining something.

Welcome to Carys Williams as our new Youth Programme Manager!

“I'm really excited to be joining Mimbre! The energy, talent, and creativity the young people bring is amazing, and I can’t wait to build on this and see what exciting things we can create together in the future of the programme.”

Still lots to think about with this situation....

Unfolding Theatre’s mission is to bring people together. We stand against hate. We are sad and troubled by far right protests planned in Newcastle this weekend. However, we are heartened by the actions of many people who work to build connections, understanding and support in the city.

Disabled dance sector: Access barriers threaten innovation The disabled dance sector is thriving in many ways but is also under threat from under-the-radar cuts to Access to Work grants. Kate Wyver investigates

Really important article from @thestage.co.uk about dance and access: www.thestage.co.uk/long-reads/d...

Feels like a good time to reshare this:
mimbre.co.uk/open-letter-...

Lyn Gardner on the impact of taking theatre outside When art erupts on the streets and you start dismantling some of the barriers to entry, others fall away too, says Lyn Gardner

Love this piece from @thestage.co.uk by Lyn Gardner on the brilliance of Outdoor Arts generally and @gdif.bsky.social specifically - www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/taki...

Photos by Eric Richmond, Lina Johansson, Scott Marshall, and lost in the mists of time.... Check out our other platforms for more photos!

Today Mimbre's Joint Artistic Director Silvia Fratelli turns 50, almost exactly at the same time as her 30 years in circus anniversary! We thought it apt to celebrate her with a tiny retrospective of all the Mimbre projects she has been throwing herself into, both literally and figuratively!

Our friends at Fevered Sleep are #hiring a parttime General Manager: www.feveredsleep.co.uk/work-with-us

Don't forget: we're looking for a part-time Youth Programme Manager. Deadline 26 August. More info here: mimbre.co.uk/mimbre-are-s...
#recruitment #artsjobs

Great article here from Gurvinder Sandher in @artsprofessional.co.uk about the power of Outdoor Arts:

www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...

(And what we need to make that work best)

National Lottery Community Fund logo

And thanks so much to @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk for their support of our Youth Programme - we really couldn't do it without them!

Did you see Weight(less) in Bradford this weekend?
We'd love to know what you thought!
Fill in our survey here: uk.culturecounts.cc/s/4UepBD/spl...

Pictures by @heardinlondon.bsky.social !

A group of people doing double dutch skipping - two grown ups are spinning two ropes while a girl jumps in the middle between them smiling. Some other young people watch from the side. They are in a sunny hall with the shapes of the windows clearly outlined on the floor by the sun that’s streaming through.

And that’s a wrap for the summer term. Our classes start again in September in Hackney, with classes for 6 up to 15-year-olds! If you are a young person interested in joining, or know anyone who is, check the full information on our website: mimbre.co.uk/learning/.

We're in #Bradford Friday 25th July and Saturday 26th July!
Come see us:

Friday - Darley Street Market at 16:00
Saturday - St George's Hall at 14:30 and 17:30

www.visitbradford.com/whats-on/mim...

A close up of two young people making the circus ‘mimbre’ shape with their arms interlocked.

Start them early!! Connecting with fellow circus company Upswing, some of the Showdown cast came in to teach the last summer class for Mimbre Youth. The kids were super impressed and inspired with the acrobats; got to try banquine and some lifts; and had a great, fun end-of-term class!

A form with positive feedback from a parent about Mimbre Youth including the comment “My child feels very confident trying difficult things as Mimbre has taught that practice makes perfect. The ONLY affordable and genuinely beneficial class, almost impossible to find anything as inclusive and affordable.”

A young boy wearing shorts and a green top dances with a look of concentration on his face. Behind him are two other young people also dancing.

Some lovely feedback and pictures from this term of Mimbre Youth, by @heardinlondon.bsky.social. One of our aims is to teach fun skills so the participants enjoy moving. It’s lovely to see when that works and the difference it can make to the young people we work with!

Lovely sunny weekend for us teaching circus skills all across Levenshulme!

#thecircushouse #circus #manchester #levenshulme

Next stop: Mouth of the Tyne Festival - we'll be at the Street Theatre Arena at 1:35 and 4:05pm tomorrow, Saturday and 1:20 and 4:05pm on Sunday. See you there!

More details about each festival with links to times and locations here: mimbre.co.uk/portfolio_pa...

A graphic showing a picture from the show Weightless - a woman carrying two other women and a big orange bag down an alley - and the text 'Weight(less)' and 'more dates'

A graphic showing some upcoming dates for the show Weight(less) in July and August 2025.

After a great international start to the Weight(less) tour for the first part of the summer, we now have some UK dates coming up in July and August. Do come and catch us in Tynemouth, Bradford or Greenwich if near!

Such an odd thing for this gentleman to say, when adult ticketgoers absolutely ARE subject to different ticket prices based on income - eg discounts based on employment status, or being a pensioner.

A square yellow advert for the Young V&A summer festival. It shows 'Summer Festival' in a quirky font over a pixelated Mimbre image of two women lifting a third by her foot. Also on the image is 'V&A' and 'Young V&A' in red, 'Bethnal Green' and 'Sat 05 July, Free for all' in black and a credit for the image.

We're at the Young V&A in Bethnal Green tomorrow! Come see us perform at 11am, then there will be two drop-in workshops at 12 midday and 12.30pm. See you there!

We are recruiting! We are looking for a part-time Youth Programme Manager - the ideal candidate will share our vision of an accessible but ambitious youth programme that allows every child to thrive.
Read more here: mimbre.co.uk/mimbre-are-s...
Closing date: 26th August 2025. Please spread the word!

This year Mimbre secured support from the Jack Petchey Foundation, which means we can celebrate our young people’s achievements each term with a special treat! In the spring term Ruzlana won the award for her constant positive energy, encouragement and care for everyone in our Maxi group.

A young boy making shapes inside an aerial hoop, smiling at the camera.

A young girl making a shape inside an aerial hoop, smiling at the camera.

This term Mimbre Youth went on a trip to The Roundhouse to meet and play with other youth circuses from London, organised by Ed and London Youth Circus at the National Centre for Circus Arts. Thank you for a great day!

A document that asks: 'Please inform us (if you have not already done so) if you or your family living with you have any of the following occupations: bookmaker, turf accountant, night club employee, casino employee, bodyguard, haulage contractor, motor trader (non-main dealer), street or market trader, scrap merchant, pawnbroker, money lender, circus employee, fairground worker, amusement arcade worker or professional sportsperson.'

What have they got against circus employees, is what I want to know?

A petite mixed-race female with brown hair is sitting on the right shoulder of a white woman with burgundy hair, who in turn is standing on the shoulders of a white woman with brown hair, who steadies the pyramid with a firm grip on the middle woman’s calves. The top woman is preparing to climb higher.

Three female acrobats wearing grey hold up and are crushed by a big orange bag trussed in rope. The central acrobat looks ahead with determination, while the two either side seem more overwhelmed with their heads down. Behind them is a green, yellow and orange background that suggests fire.

A picture of three female acrobats wearing grey, surrounded by big orange bags. One of the performers is leaning backwards against the back of another with her leg in the air and her foot flexed. The third acrobat sits on the floor looking perturbed.

Our tour is underway! Here are three great photos from Rydal Circus Festival in Sweden, Dance Days in Wales by Taliesin Arts Centre and Internationales Straßentheater Festival Holzminden in Germany!
📷Laura Meyer, AannaCarin Isaksson, Jamie Panton