Circus arts group Aim To Fly UK have lockdown film screened across the UK

A Kintbury circus arts group for people with disabilities have had their film documenting the group’s lockdown experiences screened in arts centres across the UK.

Aim To Fly UK was set up in 2014 to help people find strength and comfort through learning and performing aerial circus art in spite of their physical disabilities.

The group decided to document their lockdown struggles and how they overcame them in a film entitled ‘Our Flight through Lockdown’.

Aim To Fly UK’s artistic director Mel Stevens said: “Emotionally we as a planet shared so many fears in one year.

“We wanted to make a film to help us celebrate what we had so far overcome, and most importantly, document our sector and how we suffered, and know our truth is not ours alone.”

The film focuses on the stories of various people involved with the group and how many events in 2020, such as the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and Brexit, affected their lives both in and out of their creative work.

Our Flight through Lockdown also showcases the skills and talents of group members with a variety of beautifully choreographed and filmed performances.

The film culminates with a colourful hula hoop disco that was socially distanced and took place in the 101 Outdoor Arts space located in Greenham Business Park.

Ms Stevens also said: “All of the artists shared their fears, which echoed throughout us all and hopes for the future, which I felt was a side of a circus artist nobody ever sees.

“We all feel that these thoughts, feelings and fears are a true reflection of us as a sector, and share that we all feel the same, even with our diversity and barriers.”

Our Flight through Lockdown was filmed and edited in under six weeks and is now being screened by Theatre Deli in London and Sheffield.