Established and produced by Bourne & Hollingsworth Group in 2009, the people behind Cocktails in the City, The Blitz Party and Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, The Dark Circus Party is London's landmark immersive circus event. London revellers are transported into a world of heady illusion and unbridled spectacle – a party brimming with delectable cocktails, abandoned dancing, curious side-shows and magnificent acrobatic performances.
Throughout the night, the finest acrobatic acts from across the globe twist and turn wildly above guests’ heads, as they mingle with the creatures of the underworld on the circus stage. The Dark Circus Party invites guests to step over to the dark side with a surreal and subversive party, a night of pleasure seeking, mouth-watering cocktails and spectacular entertainment.
Combining Bourne & Hollingsworth’s atmospheric production, original cocktails and innovative theming with striking theatrical performances, The Dark Circus Party bridges the gap between mainstream and niche. Bourne & Hollingsworth transforms the venue recreating the interior of a circus big top tent, with coloured festoon lights, red and white striped draping and tiered seating, whilst creating a circus atmosphere with “freaks and geeks cages”, contortionists and strolling performers.
As with all Bourne & Hollingsworth events, the cocktails take centre stage with delectable creations such as the Ringmaster’s Poison (rum shaken with pineapple and pomegranate, finished with a hint of Maraschino liqueur) and the Circus Royale (vodka shaken with elderflower and lemon, topped with fizz).
NEXT EVENT
The dark circus party
Halloween Special
Saturday 2nd November 2019, 9pm - 3am
Party Address: EartH Hackney, 13 Stoke Newington Road, London N16 8BH
Bourne & Hollingsworth resurrects the landmark Dark Circus Party with a special Day of the Dead edition taking place on Saturday 2nd November 2019 at EartH Hackney. Guests will be submerged in a dark and thrilling world, as they join the Dark Circus skeleton troupe and run away for the evening to a sensationally spine-chilling circus, full to the brim with immersive entertainment.
Día de Muertos, The Day of the Dead, is a welcome back party to the souls of the deceased where Mexican tradition invites the dead to party amongst the living - reasoning that, after all, ‘todos somos calaveras’- we are all skeletons. This special edition of Dark Circus Party sees creatures of the underworld and ancient Mexican rituals intermingled with spectacular circus entertainment for our deepest darkest party yet.
Escape the streets of London and cross the threshold into the surreal underworld of The Dark Circus. Enter the haunted big top and become immersed in the shadows of the bazaar. Stop by the make-up wagon and artfully transfigure your visage into an elegant painted skull, swing by the bar for a heady agave fuelled cocktail, embrace the Mexican spirit of the evening, paying homage at our celebrity Ofrenda, a shrine to our most-loved bygone stars, and be swept away by the celebratory death procession marching through the festivities.
The entertainment for the night follows a traditional circus bill, but with a twisted Day of the Dead spin: marvel over a sublime evening arrangement of acrobatics, hula-hooping, sword swallowing, and masterful fire performances. Stare starry-eyed at contortionists twisting themselves into astonishing shapes as burlesque and go-go dancers showcase daring displays, with stilt-walkers towering above the contorted creatures of the underworld.
So pick a persona, embrace your inner voyeur and enter the carnival of curiosities for a night of abandoned dancing, breathtaking performances and a magical Halloween spectacle.
FAQS
DRESS CODE
Think Day of the Dead skeleton chic - painted faces, explosions of colour, Aztec marigolds and floral festoons - with a sombrero absolutely most welcome. Or imagine yourself as one of our Mexican Dark Circus troupe; Snake Charmers, Ring Masters, Strong Men, the Mexican Wrestling Ring Master…let your imagination run wild but please do remember that no costume means you will be promptly catapulted into our snake pit.
CLICK HERE for inspiration
SOUNDS LIKE A CIRCUS
The Dark Circus Party invites you to enter a world of heady illusion and unbridled visual delight, but if you can’t wait until Halloween for a taste of subversion, then we’ve put together a playlist for 30 minutes of escapism.
COCKTAILS
THE RINGMASTER RUNS THE CIRCUS
A decadent and dreamy party deserves a similarly subversive cocktail menu, and The Dark Circus Party doesn’t disappoint. To tantalise your taste buds ahead of the party, here’s the recipe for our favourite cocktail The Ringmaster’s Poison – a taste of the circus.
CLICK HERE for the recipe
