Circus artist
Jeni Barnard
25
Circus artist Jeni Barnard, 25, studied at The Circus Space and Circomedia before setting up her own performance company. She has recently performed at Bestival and at the Southbank Centre in London.
"Don’t doubt yourself - it's a waste of energy"
Hometown
Bristol originally, now east London
What do you do?
Self-employed as a circus artist –Acrojou Theatre Circus
What was your very first role in theatre?
Performing as part of a German Wheel duet at the Trafalger Square Festival in 2006
What else have you done in theatre?
I performed at the opening ceremony of the O2 (former Millennium Dome), in Off the Wall with Stan Won’t Dance at the Southbank Centre and at Bestival with Company FZ
Have you got qualifications?
A circus degree from The Circus Space and a diploma in circus arts and physical theatre from Circomedia
What did you do before you worked in theatre?
I worked as a ferry boat skipper for Bristol Ferry Boat Company for about five years
How did you make the move into theatre?
It was a gradual transition. I was doing theatre and circus alongside my boating work.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress or a painter
What do you do all day?
No typical day. A lot of admin preparing for gigs and doing publicity and working on funding applications, or rehearsing/ training/ performing.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Creativity, using a whole range of media
And the worst?
Injury
What’s your dream job in theatre?
Having the funding to be consistently create my own work
Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Take it step by step–don’t try to rush. And don’t doubt yourself- it is a waste of energy.
