In March 2022 two Sams met on a grey industrial site in the heart of Bristol. They didn’t know it at the time but meeting each other would change the course of their lives. Sam Morley was there to learn how to build a circus tent and Sam Goodburn was there to perform in the tent.
The building of the tent did not go to plan, the ground was so hard that the pneumatic stake bashers broke and the Sams spent 10 hours swinging sledge hammers to build the tent. Over the course of the day it rained, hailed and even briefly snowed. Between hammer strokes the two Sams got chatting about small tents and cosy shows, slowly they realized they had the same dream.
Over the next two years Sam Goodburn bought a tent from the Czech Republic and Sam Morley bought a seating bank from France. They saved their earnings from other jobs to renovate everything and to buy all the large and small things that you need to run a circus. In 2024 they trialled a tiny show in Chippenham, then Calne and found that their dream could be a reality. This summer they are taking Circus Piddly on its first ever tour across the UK.
Sam Goodburn- Director
With no formal training in circus or performance Sam became the clown in a circus in 2014 when the previous act suddenly left. He developed his unique style and hasn’t left the spotlight since. Now a highly celebrated comedy act in cabaret, circus and the festival circuit around the world he has won 1st place awards in 3 different national circus competitions and has been the lead comedy role in various big names shows as well as presenting his acts on a number of TV shows including Britain’s Got Talent, Game of Talents and TFI Friday.
Sam Morley- Producer
Sam grew up watching circuses and dreamed of running away with one, but instead of clowns and jugglers he travelled the world with Katy Perry, Fred Again, Eric Clapton and others setting up their lighting rigs. He also did lights on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and when not lighting shows he studied engineering at Oxford University. Now as Piddly’s producer he tries to channel the chaos of touring a circus.
Tickets can be bought online here or by visiting us at the tent. At the tent we take both cash and card. Just visit the tent and ask to buy tickets.