‘Sanger’s Circus’ – A Community Play

Looping the Loop, a theatre organisation working with communities in Ramsgate and the rest of Thanet, is beginning an exciting new journey in 2023. We are making a community play, which will be completed and performed in 2024, based on the world of the Circus ringmaster and Showman, ‘Lord’ George Sanger. In 1883, he built an amphitheatre at the top of Ramsgate High Street, where the old Argos now stands. It was a circus space then converted into a 2000-seat theatre in 1907 by designer Frank Matcham. Sadly, all that is left is some of the architecture around the Post Office – look up and you can still see the beautiful balconies.

We are delighted to be supported by Ramsgate Town Council to run some early workshops to start making ‘Sanger’s Circus’. Partnering with Ellington Park, we are running free craft/art sessions at the Café in the Park in March at 3:30pm on Fridays. Everyone is welcome, whatever your age or ability in craft or art (you don’t need to be arty!).

The sessions are run by local artist Vicki Salmi, themed around the idea of the circus Big Top. Vicki graduated from the University of the Creative Arts with a BA Honours degree (1st class) in 2022. She is a mixed media artist working in large scale painting, printing and textiles and is passionate about trying new ideas.

She says: “My art practice revolves around elements of spontaneity through mark making, and just having a go without worrying whether you are doing it the ‘right way’. I am passionate that the creative arts should be accessible at all levels of experience, age and means and this is why organisations such as Looping the Loop and projects such as Sanger’s Circus are so important in offering opportunity to those that would be interested. My own circumstances as a working-class woman impacted on the opportunities that I had access to and I didn't see the creative arts as a viable career, just something that you did as a hobby (and a wonderful collection of hobbies it covers). I ended up working in offices full time for most of my working life until a community arts group course gave me the self-belief that I'd been missing. Learning new skills can happen in all sorts of places and all my life I have been finding ways to be creative, such as attending workshops, evening classes and following tutorials on YouTube or from books and magazines, as well as my academic study at the University of the Creative Arts.”

To take part, contact loopingthanet@gmail.com or find them on Facebook/Instagram ‘Looping the Loop’. Visit the Park Café to pick up more information.