AoA's Hot To Trot Talking Points
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Well, we had two deaths this week, firstly the much-loved and deeply rebellious and deeply Yorkshire, David Hockney and also the extraordinary pianist, Abdullah Ibrahim. Hockney was 88 and Ibrahim - formerly Dollar Brand - was 91.
Salts Mill and its owner, Jonathan Silver (who is no longer alive) had a wonderful friendship with David Hockney. The mill/art gallery in Saltaire (not far from Bradford where DH was born) has the biggest collection of Hockneys in the world. Wonderful to see their tribute here. I used to go to Salts Mill often with my family. We loved going.
We wished we lived in Glasgow at this moment. There is an exhibition showing the work of Bettina, an artist, who lived at the Chelsea Hotel in room 503. Gradually her work took over more and more of her place there. She slept on a lawn chair in the hallway. She is described as working with fervour from a deep place within. She died at 94 in 2021 and younger artists had just started recognising her work. 'Sculpture, photographs and films by the artist have just gone on show in an exhibition called Bettina: Finite Structures, part of [Glasgow International festival of contemporary art. ](https://www.theguardian.com/.../glasgow-international...)https://www.theguardian.com/.../bettina-chelsea-hotel-new..
This is such a brilliant story in Positive News about the pure joy of becoming a clown/circus performer over 50. They are called Generation Circus and there are sessions in Hertfordshire. In pictures: the circus artists rewriting the rules of ageing
Words by Fern McErlane and Tom PattinsonJune 12, 2026
‘There’s something radical about seeing people reclaim play, performance and visibility later in life,’ say those behind an over-50s circus showcase
Roll up, roll up: this weekend sees the return of Generation Circus’ Over 50s Circus Showcase, a joyful challenge to the idea that play, performance and risk-taking belong only to the young.
Held on Sunday, 14 June in Hertfordshire, UK, the show — ‘A Rebellion Against Ageism’ — will bring together circus artists ranging in age from 50 all the way up to 96. Trapeze, hula hoop, juggling, clowning and dance are all on the bill.
Each performer is a weekly attendee at Generation Circus’ circus skills workshops held at Ware Drill Hall, learning new skills from juggling to trapeze. Classes are completely free and funded by the The National Lottery Community Fund.
Pink-haired Carol (main picture), who performs trapeze, dance, and hoop, said that her world “came crashing down” after the death of her daughter four years ago. “Circus gave me a way to reconnect with the world, it’s given me a purpose and brought a little bit of sparkle back into my life. Performing is my escape from the reality of life’s hard knocks, my happy place.”
Each performer is a weekly attendee at Generation Circus’ circus skills workshops held at Ware Drill Hall, learning new skills from juggling to trapeze. Pictured: Pamela
Several performers are returning from last year’s show, ‘Will You Still Love Me?’, which drew sell-out audiences of 500.
One of last year’s performers, Alison, said: ‘Emma has created a wonderfully nurturing, safe space where we can come as we are and feel accepted. There’s no too big, too much, too weird here!’. Pictured: Rumman
Carol now also performs burlesque as her alter ego Talula Demure. She added: “I say be a kid at heart because the older you get the more you can get away with.”
Trapeze, hula hoop, juggling, clowning and dance were all on the bill at last weekend’s show. Pictured: Muna and John
Emma Taylor launched Generation Circus in collaboration with her daughter, Maisy. The pair have an extensive background in contemporary and social circus. Back in the 1990s, Emma and husband Dave had a doubles trapeze act – with Maisy always taking part in the show, even at just age four.
The show — ‘A Rebellion Against Ageism’ — brought together circus artists ranging in age from 50 all the way up to 96. Pictured: Andrew
“Maisy, Dave and I have been a circus family for three decades — and building Generation Circus together has been the most rewarding adventure of all,” said Emma.
Dave now also works tirelessly behind the scenes on Generation Circus, sorting out everything “from welding rigging plates to mending fairy lights to fixing the wheels on our stage chair”.
Circus classes are completely free and funded by the The National Lottery Community Fund. Pictured: Sarah
Another of last year’s performers, Alison, said: “Emma has created a wonderfully nurturing, safe space where we can come as we are and feel accepted. There’s no too big, too much, too weird here!”
‘There’s something radical about seeing people reclaim play, performance and visibility later in life,’ said founder Emma Taylor. Pictured: Fisun
The portraits featured here, taken by Andy Holloway, carry the same spirit: older adults seen not as frail or fading, but theatrical, funny, visible and fully in the frame. As Generation Circus founder Emma Taylor puts it: “there’s something radical about seeing people reclaim play, performance and visibility later in life.”
‘The encouragement of the group has brought out something I never imagined was in me,’ said Bob (above), a clown and dancer
Bob (above), a clown and dancer, said: “I’m not a performer, I’m not comfortable being on stage … or so I have thought all my life. Circus has made me think about who I am. And it turns out I AM a performer!”
“The encouragement of the group has brought out something I never imagined was in me,” added Bob.
Photography by Andy Holloway
And we disagreed with an Opinion piece by Zoe Williams in the Guardian which was all about older people on social media complaining about their crepey necks or other aspects of their looks as they get older. She advised that we refrain and get old gracefully. Honestly Zoe, you need to read Advantages of Age…
Who is going to Womad 2026? The answer is quite a lot of AofAers. Last year there wasn’t one so really looking forward to this year’s and introducing my grandson to festival life. And look who’s playing among so many other brilliant artistes - Annie and the Caldwells on Friday. Can’t wait. Check out here -
womad.co.uk