A Fine Balance

With funding from Heritage Schools and a grant from the University of the West of England’s community fund Local Learning worked with pupils from St Michael on the Mount Primary School, UWE Masters Architecture students and History and Film undergraduates to create an exhibition and performances promoting the story of the “African Blondin” who once lived on Christmas Steps and performed at Colston Hall (now Bristol Beacon) for a Victorian audience of over 3,000.

Photographs courtesy of Julian Preece

Local Learning gathered together a team of people who helped to tell the story in a sensitive and appropriate manner, bringing together aerialists, actors, activists, archivists, acrobats and anybody else who wished to help shape this story.

We acknowledge that language and terms more commonly used during the period this production and exhibition documents are now considered offensive and do not reflect present day attitudes and beliefs.

Film created by UWE Film student volunteers capturing acrobat, Jordan Morton-Trowers performance following in Carlos Trower’s footsteps
On May 26, 2021, David Ellington and Sula Gleeson performed in the foyer of Bristol Beacon to launch the exhibitions of ‘A Fine Balance’.

Carlos Trower – “A Fine Balance” from VS1 Productions on Vimeo.

Who’s involved?

Carlos Trower Performs on Rudyard Lake, image courtesy of the artist, Trevor Haddrell

The free exhibition was launched on Wednesday 26th May 2021 in two parts simultaneously:

  • the foyer of Bristol Beacon (formerly known as Colston Hall) to include a live performance from David Ellington (filmmaker and circus performer).
  • the Finis Gallery, 17 Christmas Steps.
  • The shop window of 7, Christmas Steps was also used as a display for the exhibition and a new permanent sign commemorating Carlos Trower having once lived there is now hung above the shop.

A Fine Balance

The project built on the city conversations that have followed the recent Black Lives Matters events in Bristol. There is an increased desire to diversify our learning curriculum, making it more relevant and reflective of the multi-cultural demographic of this city.

Given Bristol’s status as a “city of circus”, there is a circularity and justification in celebrating Black African anti-slavery campaigner Carlos Trower who once performed at Bristol’s Colston Hall. It feels appropriate that as we stop honouring Bristol merchant, Edward Colston, who was heavily involved in the Trans-Atlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and whose statue was toppled, that we focus attention on the city’s unknown heroes and provide a platform for someone about whom the city can come together to be proud of.

Further information

See our previous Circus 250 project delivered in partnership with Circomedia that includes artwork created by St Barnabas CEVC Primary School inspired by the life of Carlos Trower an example of which is featured at the top of this page.

Blog by Dr Paul Green for Bristol Beacon.

Radio Bristol interview with UWE students and members of the project team.

UWE Masters Architecture students Live Project summary.