In its 4th year already, St. John’s International CircusFest is prepared for a second round of pandemic hustle in festival planning. This year the festival returns to having a significant live factor with four days chock full of in-person activities — like four live shows, artists talks, a keynote speaker, workshops and some panels that explore the professional aspects of circus. All of this had to be organized within the constraints of limited travel and visas during a pandemic when restrictions change frequently. While special care has been taken to account for the pandemic and social distancing needs, the same amount of care has gone into making sure that the circus community is represented and its needs are reflected in the shows, workshops and activities planned.

We were able to speak to festival organizer Brad Gover about their plans for the upcoming events. Last year’s festival was largely digital, and this year St. John’s is pioneering the hybrid festival form. On how these changes are impacting the festival, Brad said, “Last year we learned a lot about how to facilitate an online, digital festival, and although we considered it to be a big success, circus just isn’t the same unless it’s a group experience in real life. We missed the laughter and applause, along with the gasps of excitement and wonder. This year, we’re pleased to announce that we’re back in the various theatres and auditoriums in St. John’s, and we’re incredibly excited for visiting companies like The...