Jacksons Lane, a well-known contemporary circus venue in London, has regularly featured Finnish circus art in its program for the past ten years. More than 200 Finnish circus artists have performed in London, reaching an audience of over 15,000.
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 Circus & Dance Finland and Cirko — Centre for New Circus, 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.
Now the Finnish Institute and Jacksons Lane formed a three-year strategic partnership between 2024-2026.
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 was kicked off with Chevalier: Hobbyhorse Circus, presented at Jacksons Lane in 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.
International success requires long-term effort, but also financial investment
Much of the decade-long collaboration was developed under the leadership of Jacksons Lane’s former Creative Director, Adrian Berry.
“Efforts to promote the visibility of Finnish circus in the UK began as early as 2010, at what was then the Circus Info Finland, when Ade Berry visited Helsinki with a few other British presenters,” says Lotta Nevalainen, Head of International Development at Circus & Dance Finland.
The building of relationships and the success story were fueled by Race Horse Company’s international hit production Super Sunday, which was performed, among other venues, in front of over 1,200 spectators at London’s Roundhouse.
“Building trust is a long-term endeavor that also requires financial resources,” Nevalainen emphasizes.
Now, the work at Jacksons Lane is being carried forward by Creative Director and Joint CEO Angus MacKechnie, who was appointed to the role in January 2026.
“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 we’re excited to keep growing this partnership and creating new opportunities for circus to thrive in both Finland and the UK,” says Mackechnie.
Contemporary circus doesn’t ask permission to cross borders
At a time when many expected a reduction in European artists in the UK, the partnership between Jacksons Lane and the Finnish Institute – together with Circus & Dance Finland and Cirko — Centre for New Circus – has seen international work quadruple.
This close 10-year collaboration demonstrates the impact of long-term international efforts and the importance of cultural exports.
“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,” says Aleksi Malmberg, Director of the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland.