0:00:01 My name's Martha. I teach circus workshops in the annex here with Nofitstate Circus and also in schools around Ramperken and Taff linked in with the E3 projects. The E3 project's been set up South Wales to create activities so that kids can come along and have a go. When you show somebody a new trick and they learn it for the first time it's really rewarding and, and they come over to you saying, I've done it. I've got it. It really is fantastic feeling. And it is great fun taking a box of tricks to work with you every day.
00:00:49 These are all things that I teach. I demonstrate to kids and I also get kids, young people, adults, anyone who wants to have a go can come and try a few skills. Some people pick it up in five minutes. Some people have a bad day and keep dropping them. I did always know that I'd be doing something within circus. I discovered it by doing a one-off workshop that was open for kids to come and have a go, and the first thing I remember at trying that I really, really enjoyed and thought this is for me, was trapeze.
00:01:37 I was probably about 12 or thirteen. So, quite young but I was desperate to get up on the trapeze. I really wanted a go. I enjoyed school but there were certain things, I liked all the creative things more than anything else. I liked the woodwork, cookery, PE. So, all the physical things I felt like I could excel in more than any of the academic work. It was just the way that my brain learned I suppose.
00:02:14 I don't remember anyone trying to talk me out of getting into circus, wanting to train in circus. My parents were very supportive and my parents were aware of circus anyway. So, it wasn't a completely alien idea for me to go home and, and say, I'm going off to join the circus. After my GCSE's I went on to do a first diploma in performing arts. I completed that and then I went on to Circus Space straight after that to then complete two year's training there.
00:02:51 Along the whole time I was already performing and, and, and getting work as an aerialist and also a workshop tutor as well. I was performing for a couple of years and then I had a life changing moment where I decided to completely give up circus. I wanted to start again. Complete new, new slate as it were. What changed in my mind, I wasn't able to perform for a short while because of an injury. If I couldn't perform I didn't really want anything to do with it but that's when I got linked in with Nofitstate Circus.
00:03:40 They were looking for workshop leaders to actually help going out over the summer to teach youth circus and do taster days. You have your moments of injury and moments of, ‘I can't actually achieve what I want to achieve’ and that's been the biggest wobble for me. But if I was still a performer I wouldn't have had so much time to become a teacher and I really enjoy that. So, I think I've been lucky.
ENDS
Martha Mascord
Martha Mascord
My name's Martha. I teach circus workshops in the annex here with Nofitstate Circus and also in schools around Ramperken and Taff linked in with the E3 projects. The E3 project's been set up South Wales to create activities so that kids can come along and have a go. When you show somebody a new trick and they learn it for the first time it's really rewarding and, and they come over to you saying, I've done it. I've got it. It really is fantastic feeling. And it is great fun taking a box of tricks to work with you every day.
These are all things that I teach. I demonstrate to kids and I also get kids, young people, adults, anyone who wants to have a go can come and try a few skills. Some people pick it up in five minutes. Some people have a bad day and keep dropping them. I did always know that I'd be doing something within circus. I discovered it by doing a one-off workshop that was open for kids to come and have a go, and the first thing I remember at trying that I really, really enjoyed and thought this is for me, was trapeze.
I was probably about 12 or thirteen. So, quite young but I was desperate to get up on the trapeze. I really wanted a go. I enjoyed school but there were certain things, I liked all the creative things more than anything else. I liked the woodwork, cookery, PE. So, all the physical things I felt like I could excel in more than any of the academic work. It was just the way that my brain learned I suppose.
I don't remember anyone trying to talk me out of getting into circus, wanting to train in circus. My parents were very supportive and my parents were aware of circus anyway. So, it wasn't a completely alien idea for me to go home and, and say, I'm going off to join the circus. After my GCSE's I went on to do a first diploma in performing arts. I completed that and then I went on to Circus Space straight after that to then complete two year's training there.
Along the whole time I was already performing and, and, and getting work as an aerialist and also a workshop tutor as well. I was performing for a couple of years and then I had a life changing moment where I decided to completely give up circus. I wanted to start again. Complete new, new slate as it were. What changed in my mind, I wasn't able to perform for a short while because of an injury. If I couldn't perform I didn't really want anything to do with it but that's when I got linked in with Nofitstate Circus.
They were looking for workshop leaders to actually help going out over the summer to teach youth circus and do taster days. You have your moments of injury and moments of, ‘I can't actually achieve what I want to achieve’ and that's been the biggest wobble for me. But if I was still a performer I wouldn't have had so much time to become a teacher and I really enjoy that. So, I think I've been lucky.
ENDS
Martha Mascard is a Community Circus Coordinator for Nofitstate Circus. She teaches circus skills. She was a trapeze artist herself until an injury put her out of action for a while. "If I was still a performer I wouldn't have had so much time to become a teacher and I really enjoy that."
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