Belfast Community Circus School to roll up on BBC1 TV show

The Belfast Community Circus School will become the first project from Northern Ireland to appear on the National Lottery Live TV show.

The project which has been running for almost 30 years and has received more than £700,000 of National Lottery funding since 1996. It provides fun, positive and creative shared arts experiences for young people from across the community.

The school, which put on more than 600 free performances last year, offers opportunities for young people and is a training facility for professional teachers and circus arts performers at their purpose-built premises in the centre of Belfast.

In 2004, the Belfast Community Circus School launched the Festival of Fools - an annual street theatre festival -providing top class international and home-grown street art across the centre of Belfast.

School director Will Chamberlain will join host Chris Evans on the National Lottery Live on Saturday 2 November, where a short film about the project will be shown.

Mr Chamberlain said: "It is our mission to transform lives and communities through the power of circus arts and street theatre.

"We work with people of all ages many of whom come from some of the most disadvantaged communities in Northern Ireland.

“The funding we have received through the National Lottery has enabled us to make a real difference to the cultural and creative experience of tens of thousands of people in this region.

"We provide fun and creative activities which foster a sense of togetherness amongst our participants. But there is another side too, we coach and train professional performers and teachers and host many world-class productions and events."

Jackie O'Sullivan, from the National Lottery, added: "The National Lottery funds many fantastic projects in Northern Ireland, which make a massive difference to thousands of peoples' lives.

"We are delighted to be able to showcase the magnificent work of the Belfast Community Circus School to an audience of millions. It is important that National Lottery players know how their money is helping local people."

National Lottery players raise more than£35 million for projects each week, and since 1994 a staggering £30 billion has been raised for more than 400,000 projects across the arts, sport, heritage, and community projects.

To find out more about how National Lottery players' are supporting people, projects and places throughout Northern Ireland visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk