Bio
A Circus Theatre maker based in Bristol, specialising in unusual object juggling and narrative-driven circus. Ryan’s degenerative hearing loss inspired him towards visual arts and physical theatre, with a passion to tell silent stories without barriers. Through his company, Tit for Tat, he develops and tours ensemble circus theatre shows to events and venues across the UK.
Inspired by silent comedy, Ryan's creative work explores the connections between people, objects, and movements. As a juggler, he enjoys working with everyday objects as vehicles for human expression or innovative play. He arms himself with bowler hats, drying racks, library books, and even supermarket trolleys, to celebrate the peculiar qualities of seemingly mundane things.
He has enjoyed working with companies such as Wet Picnic, Extraordinary Bodies, Joy Magnet, and Unstable King; touring across UK & France with shows such as ‘The Lift’, ‘The Ball’, ‘The Aperitif’, 'GAME' and ‘The Most Dangerous Cup Of Tea In The World’. He has trained at UK circus schools Circomedia and the National Centre of Circus Arts, and in clowning and physical comedy with Phillippe Gaulier, Jos Houben and Les Bubb.
Background
Full CV available on request.
2023 - Present
Ongoing work as core artists, manager and director of Tit for Tat.
Taking over the management of PACTs, formerly managed by Desperate Men, along with its associated space and ethos to help sustain emerging new artists.
Joined under Extraordinary Bodies to create and perform in their show 'Waldos Circus Of Magic And Terror'
2022 - Tea and Silence
Remounting 'The Most Dangerous Cup Of Tea In The World' and beginning the development of three new shows under Tit for Tat.
Development of personal project "Shush" with Maia Ayling an indoor theatre show that explores hearing loss, identity and relationships with sound.
2021 - Directing and Facilitation
Working in creative exchange with Jonathan Priest on Circomedia's MA course in Directing Circus, working as both a performing body and a lecturer to students.
Leading R&D weeks to devise and Direct new ensemble projects as Tit for Tat
2020 - "Books!"
Ryan and Maia produce and tour Tit for Tat's show "Books!"
2019 - Creating new hat juggler content
Collaboration with Musician and Performer Maia Ayling on corporate stage act "Sax & Hats"
Working with Break Theatre in Italy, performing circus theatre shows and teaching across schools and theatres
'High Fashion Circus' with Bearded Kitten, performing interactive theatre and evening cabarets around the UK
2018 - Research and study
Producing and leading international theatrical juggling project, ‘Juggling Oddjective’, bringing together Lecoq-trained artists, diverse nationalities, and various disciplines to develop circus & theatre devising techniques.
Attending Ecole Philippe Gaulier to study clown and 'le jou' in Paris.
Working internationally with Joy Magnet - a spring loaded stilt-jumping company with eccentric character entertainment.
2017 - Touring with Wet Picnic
Touring The Lift & The Ball as part of Wet Picnic
Research into a solo show about hearing loss; "Now I Am Become d/Deaf; Destroyer of Words".
2016 The Ball - Wet Picnic
Working again beneath Director Matt Feerick, Ryan joined an ensemble team of artists to create a large scale outdoors show called 'The Ball'.
2014 - The Most Dangerous Cup of Tea In The World
Tit for Tat received Arts Council England support to improve and toured their main show 'The Most Dangerous Cup Of Tea In The World' around the UK, enjoying crowds at festivals and outdoor arts events, including CityDiversions, Fuse, Mintfest, Streets of Devizes, Adur, and Greg’s Backyard (thanks again Greg).
2013 Emerge
Amongst ongoing touring work, Ryan & Louis applied and attended to a development week for emerging artists held by the University of Winchester, where Tit for Tat begun working with Kate Hazel (Winchester Hat Fair) and Matt Feerick (Wet Picnic). Over this week, Ryan recieved mentoring from Mimbre Acrobatics, Theatre Bristol, Arts Council England, and Wet Picnic.
2013 Co-founding of Tit for Tat with Louis Lamprell
Ryan & Louis establish outdoor arts company 'Tit for Tat' - celebrating unusual juggling with wild and peculiar narratives. Tit for Tat's early work was made possible through the support of Labtime, Circomedia, Pangottic, Cirque Bijou, and this one guy called Greg who was just silly helpful. Thanks Greg.
2013 The Great Leonardo Project
In collaboration with Circus Schools Amien (France) and Carampa (Spain), working with French Directors Marc Proulx and Nordine Allal, through the European Zone of Artistic Projects.
2012 National Centre of Circus Arts
(Don't abbreviate it to the NCCA, or it might get mixed up with the National Carpet Cleaner's Association). Then known as Circus Space, Ryan received a BA(Hons) in Circus Arts, training under Ian Marchant, Iñaki Sastre, Sam Veale, Jon Udry, and Jose Triguero.
2009 to 2011 - Circomedia
The UK's Academy for Contemproary Circus and Physical Performance. Specialising in Physical Theatre (tutored by Bim Mason) and Equilibristics & Manipulation (tutored by Rod Laver & Sebastien Valade), with visiting tuition from Sean Gandini, Haggis McLeod, and Les Bubb.
2007-2008 - Alchemy Productions
Ryan worked under Will Ashwell as a tutor for ground-based circus skills; ranging from unicycling, to fire juggling, to stilt walking.