Join our
Circus Community
We hold free weekly circus sessions, community events & projects. Scroll down for more news of our sessions, or if you’d like to contribute, you can find out about volunteering.
Keep posted on sessions & timings on our social media.
We also run paid weekly youth circus classes for ages 5-7 and 8-11yrs.
Want us to Bring Circus to You?
As part of our Social Circus programmes we have a limited number of free taster sessions and Sunday Circus drop-ins we can offer to community hubs and organisations in Edinburgh. To be eligible for these sessions, the circus activities we provide must be free to access with no exclusions. If you have a private group (such as Brownies, school clubs, birthday parties etc.) we recommend booking a paid workshop.
Free Community Sessions
We offer the benefits of social circus to our community by running regular events – these are free for everyone.
Our community circus sessions are open to anyone looking to learn new skills, meet people and have fun!
Circus Community Jam (14+)
Heart of Newhaven, 4-6 Main St, Edinburgh, EH6 4PY
Thursday evenings 6 – 8pm, from 15th January.
Bring your own props. Tuition not provided. Drop-in. Suggested donation of £5 to cover hall hire.
Make a Donation
Teenagers Circus Workshops (teens 11-16)
Fridays at Leith Academy from January 2026.
Guardians/parents should register their young people at the link below and we will confirm if a place is available. If your teen is a Leith Academy student, please enquire via the school office.
Open Community Circus Sessions (families)
Drop-in circus fun for all the family. 2026 dates:
March 1st, 12-2pm at Leith Community Croft (Sunday Market)
March 8th, 12.30-2.30pm at North Merchiston Club
March 22nd, 12-2pm at Bridgend Farmhouse
If you want to nominate a community venue to host our free drop-in Sunday Family circus sessions, you can do so here.
Could you join our community as a VOLUNTEER?
We rely on the help of our brilliant volunteers to make our sessions a welcoming and nurturing place for everyone to learn new skills and have fun. As a Think Circus volunteer you will learn circus skills, meet new people and support a local charity.
GOT SOME QUESTIONS?
What is Cloud Nine?
Cloud Nine is the name of our pop-up Circus Club. Most recently Cloud Nine was resident in Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, where we brought the magic, creativity and playfulness of circus to people in Leith for 20 months, including:
- Free monthly shows and weekly workshops for families, teenagers and adults
- A place for everyone in our community to discover and participate in social circus, to improve health, wellbeing and to make new connections
- A place for circus artists to practice, collaborate, and create new work
What is Social Circus?
Social circus is an established model used all over the world. In practice it means friendly, community-based classes teaching easy, accessible skills like juggling, hula hoop, balancing and spinning. Social circus has been proven to have positive effects on physical literacy, overcoming fear of failure and resilience. See the Research.
We provide a space for community circus to thrive.
We also provide training space for established circus artists in our community to help them level up and create new work. If you’re interested contact us at hi@thinkcircus.co.uk.
How can I donate to help keep this space running?
We appreciate every penny that has helped us provide free, weekly circus sessions for the past year. You can donate here.
What will happen next?
We have a plan to continue Cloud Nine as a Pop-Up Circus, appearing wherever people need more playfulness and fun – that’s probably everywhere! In all seriousness, this project has helped us to prove what is possible with a large dedicated space, supporting the future of circus in Edinburgh. Watch this space.
How can I get involved with more circus in Edinburgh?
We have lots of circus friends all over Edinburgh. If you love our community sessions, circus classes and want to find out more about circus, explore circus venues in our area.
Check out our circus map of Edinburgh.
Our Community programmes are made possible by the kind support of our funders:
CLOUD NINE – Edinburgh’s Pop Up Circus
We offered free circus sessions to over 2400 people over the last year. NOW WE ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME FOR COMMUNITY CIRCUS.
In early 2022, we were invited to join The Wee Hub in a community takeover of the old Debenhams unit at Ocean Terminal – creating a temporary home for circus in Leith.
We turned this old abandoned unit in a shopping centre into a thriving home for community circus. Thank you to Ocean Terminal for their kind donation of a venue and to our friends at THELMA who co-ordinate this shared space and made this all possible.
How we used the space:
Alongside our weekly community sessions, we hosted:
- Cabaret showcases featuring members of our youth circus, professional performers and new/emerging artists
- Community projects and artistic collaborations
- Free to use rehearsal space for dance, theatre and circus artists
- Regular classes and events
Looking to
collaborate?
Do you have a project you want to pitch us?
We love getting involved with other community interest companies and making exciting ideas happen. Get in touch!