Circus Performer & Theatre Maker Jessica Andrade talks about her debut show ‘The Brownie Club’

I’m feeling excited, nervous and exhausted already! Its been a long time coming with various workshops, R&D’s, meetings and rehearsals to get here.

This subject is a daily occurrence because nearly everywhere I go people will make an assumption about me based on the way I look and sometimes its light and innocent, sometimes its offensive, or sometimes just ignorant. So ultimately I was like I’m gonna make a show about this! I grew up in a very white conservative part of Essex and it has changed to become more culturally diverse but I still do seem to have these conversations a lot. The Brownie Club was a friendship circle I created in primary school when my skin colour was often pointed out by teachers or students so as a form of empowerment I almost felt safer talking to my brown friends about [it]. I’ve noticed similar friendship groups throughout my life and wanted to open up the conversation to a wider audience.

Its been a lot of trial and error, during workshops and R&D about how to use circus to explore a feeling or a visual story and mix in when to talk and when is necessary and we are still playing with them all.

The responses were great and really encouraging to explore the story more and the techniques used to tell them, I remember people being quite surprised by my experiences and other people just totally relating. Many of the audience hadn’t seen a South Asian woman performing aerial silks, and I don’t think its that common so I want to expose that art form really and encourage more people to try it.

I have done a couple more R&D’s with other performers and as a solo to focus more on the narratives and how best to communicate our voices. I have worked with different directors and dramaturgs which have helped me write a lot more. I have been inspired by more poetry and various art forms by empowered women.

They supported me with a residency last year and I presented my R&D there last August and got great feedback. So this year they have given me 4 weeks (including production week in the theatre with full technical and marketing support.

They can expect moments of high energy spectacle, beautiful imagery and honest real life experiences.

I want audiences to be encouraged to step outside their comfort zone, maybe try something new and open up uncomfortable conversations.

To be brave enough to try their own ideas out, I had mine in my head for years and didn’t do anything about it out of fear, but actually the more I talked about it and connected with people in the right avenues, they were really encouraging and supportive.