Louis and Beren Wins Underbelly Productions' CIRCUS MAXIMUS Competition

Following four weeks of heats and an electrifying final show, the winner of the UK's first ever circus competition was announced on Saturday night. Hand to hand balancing maestros Louis and Beren has been crowned the best act in the land in a competition created by Underbelly Productions, the production arm of Underbelly Limited and Circus Space, the National Centre for Circus Arts.

Attracting nearly 100 entries, Circus Maximus has embraced a wide range of circus skills, which has reflected the wealth, and range of talent that the UK has to offer. During the heats five acts were selected by a combination of audience vote and an expert panel of judges to take part in the stunning finals.

These comprised the dizzying skills of Sylvia Pavone whose spins and twists with hula hoops created a series of sparkling images, Ben Brown who pulled and squeezed into muscular contortions onaerial hoop, the swinging, hanging and leaping talents of Fran and Lucie on Cloud Swing and Tom Ball whose strength and poise on static trapeze stole the audience's collective breath away.

In the end, although hard, the decision was clear. Louis and Beren performed a series of feats that seemed to defy the laws of physics as they lifted, flipped and balanced with vigour, harmony and prowess. They win cash prize of £5,000 and the chance to develop a new show with Underbelly Productions and Circus Space.

Louis and Beren said: "We are just stunned that we have won given the competition we were up against. All of the finalists were amazingly talented. We can't quite believe it. We'd like to thank the director Struan Leslie, The Underbelly and Circus Space for giving us this opportunity and of course to the panel of judges for choosing us!"

The finals of Circus Maximus were staged as a full-blown circus show directed by RSC head of movement Struan Leslie. They took place in front of a live audience and a panel of judges at Underbelly's famous purple cow tent in London as part of Udderbelly Festival at Southbank.

Underbelly Productions have been behind a number of high profile circus shows in recent years including Cantina and Tom Tom Crew, and this year will be presenting work by Circa, Pirates Of The Carabina and a new production entitled LIMBO which is currently premiering at the Adelaide Fringe Festival prior to a five month season in London.

Udderbelly Festival is part of Southbank Centre's Festival of Neighbourhood with MasterCard this summer from 4 May to 8 September. The festival will celebrate neighbourhood in all its meanings and explore what it is to have and be a neighbour. Communities who live close by and partners from across the UK and abroad will participate in creating the festival - from nearby Elephant and Castle in South London to young people from Pelhourino in Salvador, Brazil - with a diverse programme of events including poetry, discussion, visual arts, performance and art installations across Southbank Centre's 21-acre site.

Stephen Makin, Producer for Underbelly Productions says: "We have been absolutely bowled over by all the finalists in Circus Maximus. They're a hugely talented, and incredibly exciting bunch of performers. It's been an enormous pleasure seeing their work together to create the finals show, and working with Director Struan Leslie. Our winners Louis and Beren are a hugely exciting pair of artistes and we look forward to seeing what work they produce on the next step of their journey."

Rosalind Coleman at Circus Space says: "Circus Maximus has been a phenomenal experience for performers and audiences. We have been overwhelmed by the response of the public vote in this the UK's first ever Circus Competition, and how torn people have been to make their decisions! In the end, as a part of the festival of neighbourhood this is as much as anything about making new friends, and we've been delighted to see the crowd participate in this exciting process. Director Struan Leslie created a fabulous Grand Finale and Louis and Beren are fabulous and well deserved winners!"

Photo Credit: Robin Savage

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