Celebrating 10 Years of Finnish Circus Arts in the UK 

This year, Jacksons Lane and the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland celebrate ten years of showcasing Finnish contemporary circus to UK audiences. Since 2016, the partnership has presented around 40 circus productions, supported more than 200 artists and reached audiences of approximately 15,000 people.

Together with Cirko Centre for New Circus and Circus and Dance Info Finland, an extraordinary range of Finnish and Finland-based artists and companies have performed in London, building long-term relationships, nurturing new talent and positioning Finnish circus as a distinctive presence within the UK’s performing arts landscape.

The programming has included early-career artists, established companies and cross-Nordic productions, including highlights by Agit Cirk, Hanna Moisala/Lumo, Kallo Collective, Wise Fools, Ilona Jäntti & Aino Venna, The Nordic Council, Hands Some Feet, Kauri Honkakoski Company, and many others. In 2022, the Institute and Jackson’s Lane produced the Nordic Exposure festival, featuring six Nordic countries and 22 performances, alongside a sustained programme of residencies, sharings and mentoring.

The 10-year anniversary celebration will be kicked off with Chevalier: Hobbyhorse Circus, arriving at Jacksons Lane on 15 February 2026. Created and performed by Finnish artist Kalle Lehto, the work is playful, virtuosic and deeply affectionate, capturing the magic, humour and imagination at the heart of Finnish contemporary circus.

The anniversary programme continues later in the year with Yes Person, a two-woman circus show by Based On Kimberly. The acclaimed production premiered at Cirko Center for New Circus in Helsinki this January and will travel to Jacksons Lane and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the autumn.

Much of the decade-long work was developed under the leadership of Jacksons Lane’s former Creative Director, Adrian Berry, and continues under the organisation’s Creative Director and Joint CEO, Angus MacKechnie, who was appointed to the role in January 2026. Between 2024-2026 the Finnish Institute and Jackson’s Lane formed a three-year strategic partnership.

Aleksi Malmberg, the Institute’s director:

“Contemporary circus doesn’t ask permission to cross borders — it has a virtuosic ability to traverse nations, artistic disciplines, and realms of imagination. Supporting that spirit, the past decade of work together has inspired a vibrant connection between our circus scenes at both institutional and artistic levels, for the benefit of creators and audiences. The success of Finnish circus in the UK speaks to the possibilities of broad, art-led collaboration.”

Angus Mackechnie, Creative Director at Jacksons Lane:

“Jacksons Lane has a long history of welcoming international artists, and our partnership with the Finnish Institute is a powerful example of how collaboration across borders can shape a programme and inspire a community. Finnish contemporary circus brings a distinctive, inventive spirit, and as we celebrate ten years together we’re excited to keep growing this partnership and creating new opportunities for circus to thrive in both Finland and the UK.”

At a time when many expected a reduction in European artists in the UK, the partnership between Jacksons Lane and the Finnish Institute has seen international work quadruple. The 10-year anniversary celebrates a shared commitment to artistic risk, a strong alliance between England and Finland, and the belief that contemporary circus has a vital place on the international stage.

More information:

Sara Kärpänen, Arts Programme Director
sara.karpanen@fininst.uk
Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland

‘Christmas Comes to Moominvalley’ at Jackson’s Lane, 2025.