In partnership with Upswing and Gloucester Guildhall, we created a project alongside the touring show Showdown. We worked with nine young people from underrepresented backgrounds to build skills in making digital content, especially short videos that combined movement, circus, and storytelling in Bar Park.

The project responded to what the youth team shared: the bar park is often seen as a space mainly for gym-going men, which can feel intimidating, even though this doesn’t reflect the reality of who uses it and how. Together, the group explored how creativity could challenge these perceptions. Young cis male participants were supported to try expressive circus movement on the bars, using play and openness to experience the space differently and rethink ideas about masculinity. These moments were captured as short videos, bringing together different audiences and artforms and offering new ways of seeing both the performers and the space.

The project added value by responding to local concerns, building skills young people wanted, and helping promote the show through youth-led content. This approach shows how visiting artists can work with communities to create meaningful, place-based work together.