Women in Circus Symposium 2026

Join the National Fairground and Circus Archive for a one-day symposium on women in circus.

This symposium will celebrate the role of women in circus through history. Discuss the complex role they have played in its development through performance, promotion and management, including their successes, challenges, achievements and impact on the sector. 

The symposium will take place at the Western Bank Library, University of Sheffield and home of the National Fairground and Circus Archive. It will be part of a series of public events to celebrate Rope Women; an exhibition about the all-female troupe Skinning the Cat co-curated by its founder, aerial performer, entrepreneur and artist Rebecca Truman alongside NFCA Senior Archivist Arantza Barrutia with an introduction by Professor Vanessa Toulmin.

This event is free to attend, either in-person or online. Please book a ticket for either option by Friday 17 July. In-person tickets are limited, please book your place early to avoid disappointment. There is a student bursary available, see below for details and application. 

Book your free ticket here

Full programme: 

09.30 – 10.00 Registration and refreshments 

10.00 - 10.05 Anna Clements, Director of Library Services and University Librarian – Welcome

10.05 – 10.15 Arantza Barrutia, Senior Archivist National Fairground and Circus Archive – Coproduction at the archive

10.15 - 10.20 Dea Birkett (Moderator) - Introduction to the symposium

10.20 -10.50 Rebecca Truman – A Life in Aerial Performance 

10.50 - 11.10 Professor Vanessa Toulmin – Historic Background of Women in Circus 

11.10 – 11.30 Coffee break 

11.30 - 11.50 Beatrice Behlen - Parallel Lives: The case of the two Azellas 

11.50 -12.10 Alison Young - The Right of Women to a Voice: Ada Isaacs, Female Jester and the Politics of the Victorian Circus Clown 

12.10 - 12.30 Dr Kim Baston - The roles and experiences of women in the eighteenth-century circus 

12.30 – 12.45 Questions

12.45 – 13.45 Lunch 

13.15 – 13.45 Tour of Rope Women exhibition with Rebecca Truman and Arantza Barrutia (optional)

13.45 - 14.05 Dr Debanjali Biswas - Their Chameleon Lives: Travelling Show-women and Dangerous Animals Acts, 1895-1945  

14.05 - 14.25 Emily Greenwood - Producing Your Platform: Celebrating Veteran Expertise and Entrepreneurial Success in UK Circus 

14.25 – 14.45 Dr Marisa Carnesky - Reclaiming Showwomxn Heritage as Matriarchal Resistance 

14.45 – 15.00 Questions 

15.00 – 15.20 Coffee break 

15.20 - 16.20 Panel discussion with Dea, Vanessa, Rebecca and Marisa:

What does the future look like for women in circus?

16.20 - 16.30 Dea Birkett - Event closure 

Download full programme

Additional information: 

Location:

Western Bank Library, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN

For directions, including accessible routes and facilities, see the Western Bank Library guide on AccessAble.

Access:

The room for the symposium is located on level 5 of the Western Bank Library. There is stair and lift access to the room. Toilets are located on the ground level. 

The National Fairground and Circus Archive strive to make our events as inclusive and welcoming as possible. If you have any access requirements please let us know in advance of the event. 

Find further information about access, parking and maps on our website.

For enquiries related to the Symposium, please contact: Arantza Barrutia a.barrutia-wood@sheffield.ac.uk with the subject line Women in Circus Symposium 2026

We look forward to seeing you there.

Student bursary: 

We are offering one student bursary to cover UK-based travel expenses . 

The successful applicant will be invited to attend the symposium and produce an output that captures the event. This might involve a short paper or a reflective blogpost (alternative formats can be discussed).

Submission guidelines:

• Brief reason for applying (max 200 words)
• Short biography (max 200 words)
• Submission deadline: Friday 3rd July 2026

Please submit your application via the link below.

Application form 

Bursary applicants will be notified by Friday 10th July 2026.