Bringing circus with purpose to you

About us

Home of inventive and joyful circus shows across Ireland, UK and beyond

Circus250 is dedicated to bringing circus to new audiences in unusual places. We believe circus is the most accessible of art forms, for everyone. Even in these challenging times, we work with you to bring invention and joy.

Circus250 grew out of the UK and Ireland wide celebrations of 250 years of circus in 2018.

We can only invent a new future if we know what’s come before.

Meet our team

Festivals

Bringing circus magic to rural places throughout the year
Grace O'Malley Festival 2026

Grace O’Malley Festival

Grace O’Malley Festival – May
A bold new celebration of Ireland’s Pirate Queen
Circus Science On Tour Poster

Circus Science by the Sea – on tour!

Circus Science by the Sea on Tour – June
Bite-sized pop-up festivals for circus and science lovers
Circus Science by the Sea 2025

Circus Science by the Sea

Circus Science by the Sea – November
Europe’s only circus/science festival – where anything is possible!

Current productions include

Circus is Spectacle · Circus is Invention · Circus is Joy
Cruinniu na nÓg

Behind the Scenes at the Circus Workshops

Ever wanted to runaway to the circus? Well now you can. Circus250 is making a new show. And you can be part of it! Join the behind-the-scenes team to discover what it takes to create an amazing new production. […]

Grace: The Story of a Pirate Queen

Set sail with Ireland’s fearless Pirate Queen in the astounding new aerial show for all the family. With original music, powerful storytelling, and gravity-defying circus, Grace: The Story of a Pirate Queen brings the legend of Grace O’Malley vividly to life. […]
Desert Bloom, by Chilean/Irish performer Angelica Santander

Desert Bloom

Desert Bloom, by Chilean/Irish performer Angelica Santander, is the charming story of the lifecycle of a beautiful red flower that lives in the Atacama Desert in Chile, South America. This special plant blooms only once every ten years. What does it need to blossom? […]

Fishy n’ Dishy

Fishy juggles shells and Dishy spins plates. Meet the pair and have a go at doing it yourself, while finding out all about the plight of our oceans […]

Am I Irish Yet?

Am I Irish Yet? is a one-woman show by author Kate Kerrigan, chronicling a life spent searching for who she is. Born and raised in London, Kate moved to Ireland in the 90s. 35 years on, with a family and career rooted in Ireland […]
Juanita's Big Problem - Juanita pointing at a crowd of school children with their arms raised to answer her question

Juanita’s Big Problem

Juanita the Cleaner has been collecting her rubbish for one whole year. But what can she do with this mountain of plastic? Europe’s leading female clown Angelica Santander tackles plastic pollution with dance, circus and several bin loads of humour. […]
All shows

What People Say

Rave reviews!

Art of any kind is incomplete without an audience and having someone like Circus250 brave enough to create a space where people can try out new work at the baby stages allows work to be developed and so the whole community benefits and flourishes. Thank you for that.

Skin ‘n Blisters, Daring Debuts – Daring Dames Festival 2023

Kids from 4 to 15 years old were equally enthralled during the workshop, it was fantastic to see such enthusiasm, excitement and joy from the audience. Parents were bowled over at the quality and success of the engagement and show as a whole.

Salisbury Playhouse – StrongWomen Science

Brilliant. So well-crafted, a most accomplished performer. Funny, honest and poignant. The audience loved it.

Mary Kenny, columnist, Irish Independent – Am I Irish Yet?

… utterly intellectually compelling but just as utterly hilarious … Whatever the stuff in this show does – it is very, very good.

Exeunt Magazine – What Stuff Does

Absolutely positively ecstatically brilliant!

Audience member – The Amazing Flea Circus in a Suitcase