Albert & Friends Instant Circus (1983 - 2019)
Biography
Albert & Friends Instant Circus (A&FIC) was a contemporary social circus charity based in London, that worked with children and young people with physical and learning difficulties, problem children and excluded youths to develop their potential through circus and the physical arts. A&FIC was stablish in 1983 and incorporated on 22 November 1996.
Their aims were to inspire and celebrate individual achievement through innovative learning and the development of diverse skills, aptitudes and experiences which challenged, influenced and changed life expectations and unlocked individual potential. They were also involved in plans to combat childhood obesity through circus skills.
The company was founded in London in 1983 by Ian Scott Owens (aka Albert the clown) and Petrea Owens (aka Trea) and gained worldwide recognition for its highly skilled, innovative circus theatre performances. Its reputation and performance schedule extended to New York, Paris, Rome, Frascati, Edinburgh, Beijing, Hamburg, Ljubljana, Maastricht and Adelaide. A&FIC developed from a local summer project in 1983, to a voluntary youth organisation in 1988, to a registered Charity in 1997. Trea established A&FIC as a model of good practice in both youth circus and circus arts education gaining Arts Council England recognition in 2004 and National Portfolio Organisation status in 2012.
Albert also worked with Melcombe Primary School in Hammersmith and created a curriculum for circus skills to be taught in schools for a variety of lessons including Maths and History for Key Stage 1-3.
Albert and Trea also created the biennial London International Youth Circus Festival in 2004 providing a platform for young people to perform on the world stage.
A&FIC played a pivotal role in creating both Circus Works, the national UK network for youth circus organisations, and the European Youth Circus Organisation, of which Trea is President. Trea has contributed considerably to the development of the sector both in the UK and Europe.
A&FIC was disolved on 15 October 2019.
Found in 365 Collections and/or Records:
Newsletter Photos June/July 09 Optical Disk, 2009
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
NOF Half Term DV Cassette Tape, c1995 - 2008
DV cassette tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Oasis AFIC Blue Petter VHS Tape, c1985 - 2000
VHS tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Old Cinderella Photographs, c1996 - 2003
Includes photographs of children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus during a performance of Old Cinderella.
Old Cinderella Photographs, c1996 - 2003
Colour photographs of children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus, shown performing in 'Old Cinderella', and by a canal (location unknown but possibly London).
Old Workshop and Show Photograph Album No.1, c1983 - 1989
Photograph album titled, 'V. Old W/Shops and Albert's Shows', containing colour photographs of Ian Scott Owens delivering acrobatic and circus skills workshops for schools, a trip to the seaside, and a performance by him in a park in costume as Albert the Idiot, shown with his car called, Henrietta.
Old Workshop and Show Photograph Album No.2, c1983 - 1989
Photograph album titled, 'V. Old W/Shops in the Park', containing colour, and some black and white photographs of Ian Scott Owens delivering acrobatic and circus skills workshops for school children, and a performance by him, with children and young people involved in Albert & Friends Instant Circus. Also includes colour photographs thought to be used for promotional purposes of him performing and posing dressed as Albert the Idiot, with his car, called Henrietta.
Opening Night DV Cassette Tape, c1995 - 2008
DV cassette tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Out and About 2 Programme 4 VHS Tape, c1985 - 2000
VHS tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Outside Performance Photographs, c1990 - 2008
Colour photographs of various, mainly unidentified, outside performances in parks, town squares, as well as street performances involving children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus. Includes photographs of performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and performances in parks by Albert the Idiot. Material found together in plastic wallets labelled 'Parks' and 'Outside Performances'
Oversize Photographs, c1990 - 2008
Oversize photographs of various, mainly unidentified, performances, shows, parades, workshops and other events involving children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Parade Photographs, 2006
Colour photographs of young people and children of Albert & Friends Instant Circus, shown performing in various parades, notably the Macy's Parade in New York, and another unidentified parade in London.
Parade Photographs, c1990 - 2008
Colour photographs of various, mainly unidentified, parades and street performances, involving children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus. Notably includes photographs of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York and the Lord Mayor's Parade in London. Material found together in a plastic wallet labelled 'Parades'.
Parallel 9 Instant Circus 19.9.92 TX22 VHS Tape, 19 February 1992
VHS tapes relating to Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Paris '08 (2) Optical Disk, 2008
Optical disks, containing correspondence, administrative papers, newsletters, photographs and films, created by Albert & Friends Instant Circus.
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid Film VHS Tape, 1999
Box containing the tape labelled as follows: 'Mago 1999'.
People Photographs, c1990 - 2008
Colour photographs of various, mainly unidentified, people involved in Albert & Friends Instant Circus. Includes photographs of children and young people at leisure on residential trips, and adult facilitators including Ian Scott Owens and Trea Owens. Material found together in plastic wallets labelled 'People and Objects'.
Photograph Album, c1985 - 1995
Photograph album, containing colour photographs of workshops with school children, shown building kites and puppets and preparing for a performance at an unidentified school, facilitated by Ian Scott Owen of Albert & Friends Instant Circus, and further photographs of a performance by children and young people from Albert & Friends Instant Circus in costume and on stilts inside St. Paul's Church, London(?)
Photograph Album, c1988 -2000
Photograph album, containing colour photographs of children and young people of Albert and Friends Instant Circus, shown during a trip to Australia (1998), performing at Macy's Parade in New York (circa. 1999-2000), a street performance at Sidmouth (1997), on stage performing circus skills in Liverpool (1988), during a trip to Adelaide, Australia (circa. 1998-2000) and a street performance in Edinburgh (1999).
Photograph Album, c1990 -2000
Photograph album, containing black and white photographs, and some colour photographs, of acrobatic and circus skills workshops facilitated by Ian Scott Owen of Albert & Friends Instant Circus.