Our Story

The Chipolatas (Sam Thomas / Tristan Glover) established the company in 1992 along with founder member Jasper King (1970-2015).

The company has performed in 45 countries, many with support from The British Council.

Our work is for a cross generational and multicultural  audience and we draw on three decades of experience touring as international circus artists and live musicians. We produce and perform original live music, and combine it with circus artistry, contemporary movement and comedy.

We excel in delivering dynamic projects that are engaging, innovative and inspiring, creating powerful performances and cultivating collective joy through community celebration.

Driven by the necessity to activate physical expression over intellectual analysis, we work with many arts organisations to develop projects that evoke emotional engagement and celebrate real human connection.

We have maintained a large network worldwide and continue strong long-term relationships with festivals, programmers, producers and performers working in contemporary circus, dance and physical theatre.

The company has a proven track record in professional and high quality arts provision. Our universally-acclaimed shows and educational outreach projects are committed to inclusion and equal opportunities.  At the heart of cultural community engagement, we understand that our work provides important social cohesion whilst nurturing intrinsic aesthetic and entertainment values.