Between Beasts

Between Beasts is a circus performance devised by the MA Collaborative Performance Making 2025/26 cohort in collaboration with Upswing. Based on Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber collection, it explores themes of power, identity, and transformation through a feminist lens.

For this project, I was responsible for designing, sourcing, and making costumes and props for the section inspired by The Erl-King. The designs drew inspiration from the vivid imagery of Carter’s writing, as well as animal kingdom, mythology and symbolism. Research for the show sparked my interest in the connections between society and mythology: how marginalised groups have historically been associated with animals and mythical creatures in attempts to dehumanise them, and how the queer community reclaims figures such as mermaids and shapeshifters.

Working with Upswing gave me the opportunity to explore costume design for circus performance, where attention to detail and safety are vital. Alongside adapting designs, materials, and construction methods to anticipate and minimise the risks of falls, the process also challenged me personally. What began as a fear of falling gradually became a fascination with the possibility of flying.