Ellie Dubois’ No Show took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm in 2017, winning a prestigious Herald Angel award, and putting female strength, skill and power centre stage. The production joyously and heartbreakingly reveals what lies hidden beneath the showmanship of circus. What do you expect when you go to the circus? The greatest show on earth?

No Show opens with five strong, glamorous circus artists showcasing their spellbinding acrobatics and flexibility – the perfect ‘show girls’. But, after this opening number, the show starts to break down and No Show begins to unveil attempts and failures, revealing frustrations and how artists are pitted against each other. The audience learn of everything that could go wrong from finger crushing to concussion and shoulder dislocation in a Cyr Wheel act.

In this production, we are allowed the opportunity to see behind the flawless smiles and perfect execution of traditional circus performance - to see the wobbles, the pain and the real cost of aiming for perfection.

This is a show for anyone who has tried, failed and failed better. No Show deconstructs superhuman circus performers and shows them as vulnerable and human.

Ellie Dubois comments, Touring is the lifeblood of theatre and part of the circus tradition, so it is super exciting to be taking No Show across the UK and bringing contemporary circus to many different communities in diverse venues from theatres to village halls. At a time when sexual politics are being exposed in film, theatre and other art forms, it seems especially important that circus is also exploring its gender politics.

…even on days when muscles ache and bruises need camouflaged, the show definitely must go on, served up with a big, happy smile and a theatrical flourish. This is the back-stage reality that Ellie Dubois acknowledges in her astutely-focused new piece, No Show, in which the five performers also offer details of what it takes to excel in their respective skills. If the battle to perfect those slick, quick moves on dangerous equipment seems cruelly unrelenting, there’s another challenge and it’s the gender trap (The Herald).

No Show was also shortlisted for a Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane Award for Circus.

This tour is funded by ACE Creative Scotland.


Running time 60 minutes

Box Office Tickets are available from the individual theatre box offices

Twitter @ellie_dubois, #noshow

Creator/Director Ellie Dubois
Devisors/Performers Francesca Hyde
Kate McWilliam
Michelle Ross
Camille Toyer
Alice Gilmartin

Costume Designer Jennie Loof
Lighting Designer Michaella Fee
Sound Designer Kim Moore
Producer Nicola Lawton


Performance Dates

12th – 13th Sept Tayvallich Village Hall
Village Hall, Tayvallich, PA31 8PR

16th – 17th Sept Lyth Arts Centre
Lyth, Wick KW1 4UD

20th September Eden Court
Bishops Road, Inverness IV3 5SA

21st September Comar, Mull
An Tobar, Argyll Terrace, Tobermory, PA75 6PB

23rd September MAC Galashiels
Bridge Street, Galashiels TD1 1SP

26th September The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
122a Highgate, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4HE

27th September Platform, Glasgow
1000 Westerhouse Road, Glasgow, G34 9JW

28th September Women of the World Festival, Perth Theatre
Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ

29th September Woodend Barn, Banchory
The Barn, Burn O Bennie, Banchory, AB31 5QA

4th October Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling
University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

5th October The Lowry, Manchester
Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ

6th – 7th October Theatre Deli, Sheffield
202 Eyre Street, Sheffield, S1 4QZ

8th October Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds
3 Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 3AD

11th – 12th October MAC Belfast
10 Exchange Street West, Belfast, BT1 2NJ

13th – 14th October Summerhall, Edinburgh
Summerhall Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1PL

15th October Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster
Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University, LA1 4YW

16th – 17th October The Hullabaloo, Darlington
Borough Road, Darlington, Durham, DL1 1SG

19th October Quarterhouse, Folkestone
Quarterhouse, Mill Bay, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1BN

20th October Proteus Theatre, Basingstoke
Council Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 3DH

24th – 27th October Tobacco Factory, Bristol
Raleigh Road, Bristol, BS3 1TF

28th October Cambridge Junction
Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX

LATEST NEWS