Albert & Friends Instant Circus was a community theatre company based at Riverside Studios between 1986 and 2018 – our longest-serving tenants. The company began in the parks of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in the Summer of 1983 when 'Albert the Idiot' offered young people a series of circus workshops. A&FIC was founded on the belief that circus theatre and the physical arts can be extremely powerful tools in the personal development of young people. This belief coupled with the use of non-formal teaching methods created an environment that valued and encouraged the individual. During its 35 years, A&FIC’s reputation extended far beyond its local roots with appearances in Edinburgh, New York, Beijing, Adelaide, Sylt, Hamburg, Tallinn, Ljubljana, Lahti, Leuven, Hanover and Paris. A&FIC also wowed the British public with performances in theatres and parks all over London and the UK including one very memorable appearance at the Royal Albert Hall. A&FIC participated regularly in the London New Year’s Day Parade in addition to annual parades in Rome, Paris and Maastricht. The company ceased operations in September 2018.
