Connecting Hearts, Bridging Generations

A magical circus theatre show co-created with communities to spark connection and tackle social isolation.

A Story For All Ages, Built With Our Community

"Stella's Imaginarium" is a new contemporary circus theatre show designed for intergenerational audiences. It tells the heartfelt story of Stella, a young girl who feels isolated during a family argument and retreats into her imagination under a blanket tent. In this magical world, she meets enchanting animal characters, including one played by an artist over 50, who help her navigate her feelings and rediscover connection.

A glimpse into Stella's Imaginarium

Narrative

Stella, a young girl living on Hoxton Street. Her adventure begins when she visits a bustling street market, gets separated from her family, and becomes overwhelmed by the "hustle and bustle" of the street. Seeking refuge, she stumbles into an abandoned "Monster Supply Store". There, she discovers a secret door that begins to glow, and upon entering, she finds herself transported into a magical world born from her own fears and stories. In this Imaginarium, she will encounter enchanting characters, including one played by an artist over 50, who help her navigate her feelings and rediscover connection. The narrative of the show is directly shaped by community input, incorporating interviews with local young people about their hopes and fears, ensuring the story resonates authentically with its intergenerational audience

Partners

Crucial to the delivery of "Stella's Imaginarium" are its strong partnerships with Hoxton Hall in London and Out There Arts in Great Yarmouth. These partners provide vital venue support, rehearsal space, and deep connections into their respective local communities, particularly in Hoxton and Great Yarmouth. Brainfools has a history of successful collaborations with both Hoxton Hall and Out There Arts on multiple projects over past years, such as "Strictly Hoxton" and circus skill workshops in SENSE schools. Additionally, Newcastle Circus Arts is another key partner in the three-phase creation process

Creatives

The project "Stella's Imaginarium" is driven by a talented core creative team, including Toffy Paulweber as Producer/Performer, Jared Shanks as Co-Director/Performer leading choreographic direction and sustainability efforts, and Rika Fujimoto as Production Assistant. Key creative roles are filled by confirmed talents such as Holly Miller for Set and Costume Design, and experienced Outside Eyes Sean Kempton and Michaela O'Connor, who provide critical feedback to shape the work. Performers like Emily Perzan, who plays Stella, bring acting and singing skills, supported by other skilled circus artists, including a planned performer aged 55+ to embody the intergenerational story.

Future

Looking ahead, the ultimate ambition for "Stella's Imaginarium" is to develop a high-quality, tour-ready show. Following an initial run of performances across partner venues in Hoxton, Great Yarmouth, and Newcastle, the goal is to tour the show in spring 2026, specifically focusing on bringing this story of connection to rural communities that typically have lower access to contemporary arts and circus. This strategic touring plan ensures the project's impact extends beyond its initial performances, reaching new audiences and fulfilling its long-term aim of bridging divides and fostering shared experiences.

Our past work

At Brainfools, our core ethos is to combine important societal topics with uplifting circus theatre and bring it to areas with lower access to the arts. This journey has been significantly shaped by our past successes, laying the groundwork for "Stella's Imaginarium". A pivotal moment came during our self-funded "Circus Enchanté" show, where we witnessed a powerful intergenerational connection, sparking the idea for creating more shared experiences. Concurrently, our ongoing work with "Hackney Circle" has provided invaluable experience in meaningfully engaging older people, including projects like "Strictly Hoxton," aimed at reducing isolation for those aged 65 and over. We've also inspired young people through circus skill workshops, visiting SENSE schools in Great Yarmouth. These efforts have been bolstered by strong, successful partnerships with Hoxton Hall and Out There Arts, both co-commissioners of our work.

Our commitment to addressing pressing social topics through the transformative power of circus is further exemplified by our touring show, "Lucky Pigeons," which delves into the important themes of the marginalisation of homeless people and migration. "Stella's Imaginarium" is a new development that purposefully weaves these separate strands of learning together, moving from creating work for different generations to creating work with and between them, building on our past successes to make an even deeper impact

Touring Shows

Community Events

Free Workshops

Access at the heart

About the Company - BrainFools

At BrainFools, we believe in the transformative power of contemporary circus arts to connect, inspire, and engage. Founded in 2021 BrainFools has rapidly evolved into a beacon of innovative and socially-aware performance art. BrainFools is now spearheaded by Jared Shanks and Toffy Paulweber as co-artistic directors.

Our Vision

Our vision is to redefine the realms of circus and performance art, making them not just spectacles of skill and beauty but also powerful mediums for social commentary and community engagement. We are dedicated to creating immersive experiences that resonate deeply with diverse audiences, transcending boundaries and sparking conversations.

From the streets of London to the rural heartlands of the UK, we bring stories to life through a mesmerizing blend of acrobatics, dance, and theater. Each performance is a journey – an exploration of themes that matter, from the struggles of marginalized groups to the joys of human connection.

Welcome to our world. Welcome to BrainFools