Seeing red. The ringmaster and the ‘Rebels.’

I would not have been surprised to have bumped into Noah at work on his Ark on a day like today.

However, whatever the weather, l was determined to train over to Bristol and use Google Maps to find the warehouse – buried amongst the industrial clutter of St Philips – where Doug Francisco and his creative team who make up ‘The Invisible Circus’ are based.

Though not for much longer, as their base at Unit 15 has been bought up by developers for more student accommodation.

Invisible Circus settled in Bristol after a previous life touring carnivals and fiestas on mainland Europe. Over the last ten years, they’ve used their former industrial home as a space for shows and to let other circus performers develop their skills and talents.

All very interesting you say but what is the connection with Bath? Well, let me tell you,.Doug Francisco may be a creative director – an actor and a circus ringmaster – but he’s also the man who put a new form of collective protest on our streets.

Earlier this year 300 people came together – with red gowns and white faces – to hold a Funeral for Nature through the streets of our city.

They joined thousands of other people around the world who have become Red Rebels to silently protest against the harm humankind is doing to this planet.

I was finally about to meet the man who had come up with that original and thought-provoking idea.

NB. Many of the Funeral for Nature visuals are credited to Richard Lucking.

Now l left Bristol nearly twenty years ago and am not sure which empty department store in Broadmead has become Sparks Bristol – a shop with a difference. I looked on their website – sparksbristol.co.uk – and noted that this store is designed to help people ‘take easy, money-saving actions on climate, equality and well-being.’

However, it also supports the city’s creative community with affordable artist space. Doug Francisco has a studio and small performance space there but, with health issues limiting his physical abilities, has set up a Crowdfunder.

On it, he says: ‘I am raising funds here to try and assemble a rock steady core team to assist me in the major build elements of the work for a few days and pay them for their time.’

If you want to get involved please log on to

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-peoples-theatre-sparks-bristol/backers#start