This month in our Business of the Month feature, we’re focusing on two great businesses in one special place – please be introduced to Cirk Hes, and Trevow Helston at the Old Cemetery Chapel, in Helston, Cornwall.
We’ve been fortunate enough to work with the brilliant teams at both businesses this year, as part of our Mayven Festival – here’s a clip of Jaia Peppiatt performing at our Feminist as Folk event at Cirk Hes and here’s our own Christina Li reflecting on conversations at our Riot Showgrrrls Club at Helston Old Cemetery Chapel.
Cirk Hes
Previously known as Cirque du Ciel, Cirk Hes (which means ‘Shoal Circus’ in Cornish) is a charity which has been facilitating the teaching, training and performing of the Circus Arts and Physical Theatre since 2003. Students have gone on to perform nationally, including at Glastonbury Festival. Now with two permanent spaces – Circus Works in Devoran and the brand new, industry standard facilities of Cirk Hes Circus Space in Helston – they are continuing to teach circus skills to everyone from beginner to expert, from ages 2 to 102.
Check out their class schedule here – with classes ranging from Circo Micro for the under 6’s to Circo Neuro and Out2Lunch adult classes, and including things like hula-hooping, trampolining, parkour, aerial and acrobatics, there really is something for everyone.
Helston Old Cemetery Chapel
Helston Old Cemetery Chapel is a gorgeous space, which has been recently rescued by theatre company Trevow Helston.
Their thirty year lease, at a peppercorn rent, means they should be able to fulfil their hopes of turning this space into a new cultural space for the town. Speaking to the Falmouth Packet, project lead Guy Watson said “It will focus on creating and sharing artistic projects with often under-served communities, is a fantastic and rare opportunity for a town like Helston.”
It’s already becoming part of the local cultural scene, hosting events including our Open Door Day in May and The Late Great Wake as part of our Mayven Festival in May 2024. Our friends at FEAST heldt heir Festivals’ Network meeting in the Chapel on Tuesday 4th June, and events including Wild Spaces with Doug Allan on the 3rd of September and Can’t Wait to Leave on the 12th of October are bookable through the Minack Theatre website. And even more, we’ll be back with Queenagers on Saturday 26th October!
If you’re going to be near Helston this autumn and beyond, do check out both of these brilliant organisations – there may well be events you can join in with.
