About Us

---

Shifting Sands Theatre was founded to create comic, moving, physical theatre using clowning, text, animation and play combined with strong visual design.

The result is stimulating and accessible theatre re-interpreting classical texts and devising new work which is enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

Artistic Director Gerry Flanagan is one of England 's most sought after Clown practitioners and Shifting Sands has grown out of his work.

The company tour nationally, perform mad-cap street theatre and offer education workshops and residencies tailored to specific needs. We encourage the development of new talent via teaching and performance projects for aspiring performers of all ages.

All shows have been  Arts Council funded.

STREET THEATRE                             We have followed the sunshine (and been rained on!) at countless street events and festivals with a range of Interactive Street Theatre.   

 PARTICIPATION

 The company encourages the development of new talent through its workshop and performance projects, working with people of all ages and abilities to enable them to develop and experience the sense of play in performance that is at the core of our work.  

Shifting Sands Theatre moved to Scotland in December  2021. We were previously based in Derbyshire.   The company was founded in 1998 to create stimulating and accessible Clown theatre that is both comic and moving. We like to combine Clowning, text, animation and the techniques of physical theatre together with a strong, simple,  design. Apart from devising our own shows we have also been particularly interested in using Clowning to re-interpret and re-discover classic texts and myths. The company encourages the development of new talent through workshop projects that often lead to the creation of a show.  

TOURING 

We have toured nine shows nationally in England, two in Scotland, all funded by Arts Council England. Recent shows include our clown adaptation of THE SEAGULL which toured in 2014 with 22 dates, ARABIAN NIGHTS ...and DAYS! in 2016 had 25 dates, THE KING LEAR in 2017 toured to 17 venues. The same show, now self-supporting, toured again in 2018 with a further 19 dates. THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR toured in 2019 with 15 dates.                                               Rural touring and touring to non-theatre venues is a hallmark of the company. We have toured with eight rural schemes including North East Arts Touring (NEAT), based in Aberdeenshire (2 tours) and Live and Local (4 tours).   

Gerry  has worked with many companies including the David Glass Ensemble, Complicite and Bubble Theatre. He worked in Italy for three years, teaching clowning and performing with Clown Selvaggio.

In 1991 he co-founded Commotion. Joint Artistic Director of the company, he appeared in all their shows – Point of Departure, No Matter What, The Quest for Don Quixote, Don Juan, and Get Out of Here. Directors for the company included John Wright, Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermot.  When Commotion folded, Gerry set up Shifting Sands in 1998. Gerry’s directing credits include Karton Nach Hawaii for Theatre Kurt in Frankfurt; Window to The Moon and Wolf at The Door for Phil Gunderson; Fools!Fools!Fools! and Don’t Let Go for Chung Ying Theatre Company in Hong Kong ; When in Rome and I am a Viking for Gonzo Moose; The Mask of Prospero for Glasshouse Productions. He has directed all the Shifting Sands shows. 

Gerry has taught clown and related subjects for over thirty years in universities, colleges, schools plus the Circus Space, Greentop Circus  and the City Literary Institute, London

“ that wonderful, bewildered clown,   Gerry   Flanagan”            Time Out

"A compelling production presented by hugely talented performers...a wonderfully inventive retelling of Dickens’ bittersweet tale. The audience were completely absorbed"

Total Theatre on Great Expectations

“a plot riddled with twists and turns , with enough red herrings and gasp-shock denouements to confuse and stun even the most die-hard Dashiell Hammett fan: spot-on clown and physical theatre.”

Total Theatre on The Deadline.

“clever theatre, using slapstick, clowning, grotesque and at times ‘Pythonesque’ performances exceptionally executed - set, stage and props were used with  ingenuity and humour - a quirky and fun night out.”

Maidenhead Advertiser on The Devil’s Doctor.

“A wonderful sense of play - One of the most enjoyable and hilarious productions I have seen – inspiring.”

Total Theatre on Romeo and Juliet

An adaptation of great innovation and uniqueness - very special indeed - inspirational. Whoever you are, you would’ve loved it !”

Essex County Standard on Romeo&Juliet

“delightful, spectacular and inventive”

Judy Kenney, Programme Manager Performing Arts, New College, Nottingham

“ reveals that wonderful art of being able to laugh, with others, at ourselves”

Il Lavoro (Italy)

“ that wonderful, bewildered clown, Gerry Flanagan”

Time Out

“A fascinating interpretation…moving and innovative. Would that Shakespeare was performed this way when I was at school!”

Reading Chronicle on Romeo & Juliet