REG BOLTONReg Bolton, who died on 14 July, 2006, at the age of 60, will be remembered as a man who revolutionised the traditional circus.Mr Bolton was a clown, teacher, actor, director and writer who realised the potential of the circus to aid children’s education and enhance community spirit.At a time when interest in traditional big-top extravaganzas was waning, Mr Bolton developed the idea of a community circus where he would move into an often deprived area and involve local children in the development of a show.He toured the globe setting up his circus schools and finally settled in Western Australia , becoming a leader of the new circus movement that was developing across the world.Reginald Ernest Bolton was born on 13 November, 1945, in Margate , Surrey . He studied English and European literature at Warwick University . After qualifying as a teacher he taught for a period at St Mary’s Primary School in London .Mr Bolton moved to Edinburgh in 1970 to become the director of the Theatre Workshop where he developed theatre shows with local communities on the deprived, outlying estates.Having taught himself basic circus skills, he created the Suitcase Circus in 1975 which was aimed at teaching children circus skills and instilling in them the confidence to take on new challenges.In 1977 he studied for a short time at l’Ecole National du Cirque but soon realised that he was not cut out to be a great circus star and instead decided to create his own circus school.Later that year he founded the Edinburgh Summer Circus School and for 10 years he travelled extensively setting up circus schools. In 1981 he ran Scotland ’s first Community Circus Festival and in 1984 founded Suitcase Circus International.He also lectured in drama at Moray College of Education and wrote and performed plays for children at Edinburgh ’s Traverse Theatre.In 1985, Mr Bolton took his family to Australia where for 17 years he lectured at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He toured aboriginal settlements where he found challenges similar to those he faced on Edinburgh estates.He remained honorary President of the UK National Association of Youth Circus and, until his death, was chairman of the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association.Mr Bolton was married to Annie Stainer, a dancer and mime artist who he met at university, and together they had two children – Jo and Sophie – who also performed in his theatrical productions.He wrote extensively on all aspects of the circus. In 2005 he completed his PhD on “How Circus Works.” He was an inspiration to all who met him.Perhaps Mr Bolton is best summed up in his own words: “Many become wonderful in circus. For one short time in their lives they touched the sky, they did the impossible, they smiled and a crowd applauded. That moment stays with them.”
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