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Meet the team

Say hello to the friendly faces behind Shooting Stars Circus Skills, the people who bring the big top to your school, group, party or event.

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The Shooting Stars crew

  • Steve Grainger

    The Big Cheese

    Steve founded Shooting Stars Circus Skills over 30 years ago, turning his passion for juggling into a nationwide business that combines circus skills, education and fun.

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    Shooting Stars Circus Skills was born from my passion for juggling over 30 years ago. What began as a hobby has grown into one of the UK's largest circus skills workshop providers.

    After university, I became increasingly interested in the educational benefits circus skills could offer children. This inspired me to develop specialist resources that bring circus skills and the school curriculum together.

    When I'm not busy with Shooting Stars, I enjoy walking and hiking, photography, reading, golf and, of course, juggling!

  • Paul Grainger

    Paul has been juggling since he was 11 and has been part of Shooting Stars since the very beginning. He loves sharing his skills with children and adults alike.

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    I've been juggling since the age of 11 and have worked with Shooting Stars Circus Skills since the very beginning.

    I first learnt to juggle at a summer fete in Birmingham, and it remained a hobby for many years. Over time, I've performed at countless shows and events, but these days my focus is on passing those skills on to children and adults.

    I hope everyone I teach gets as much enjoyment from circus skills as I do!

    Outside the circus world, I enjoy physics, gadgets and eating apples!

  • Jebb Christie

    From street performances around the world to teaching circus skills, Jebb turned his favourite hobby into a career and has never looked back.

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    Juggling and circus skills started out as hobbies for me, but eventually I realised I wanted to perform.

    I began busking on the streets while travelling, and in 1996 became the manager of a circus shop, first in Oxford and then in London.

    In 2000, I decided to leave my day job behind and become a full-time performer and circus skills teacher.

    More than two decades later, I'm still living the dream!

    Love juggling! Love teaching!

  • Nick Putz

    Nick has taught circus skills since 1992, working with everyone from nursery children to drama students, community groups and corporate teams around the world.

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    A friend taught me to juggle three balls on a beach in Cornwall when I was a teenager.

    Years later, determined to pursue a career in show business, I joined a small circus company as an actor and learnt many more circus skills while working there.

    I began teaching circus workshops in 1992 and have since worked with an incredible variety of people. My experience ranges from pre-nursery children aged two to drama school students, street children in Kabul, corporate teams, young offender institutions and specialist support settings.

    I've also taught at schools and youth groups across the country.

    As a performer, I specialise in stilt walking, unicycling and juggling.

  • Fred Holliday

    Fred discovered his love of circus skills at just 12 years old through Shooting Stars holiday workshops. Today, he enjoys passing those same skills on to others.

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    I first fell in love with juggling and circus skills when I was 12, attending Steve's holiday workshops at Abbey Park School in Pershore.

    I went along every half-term and school holiday, always eager to learn something new. Afterwards, I'd spend hours practising, most evenings and weekends!

    During Year 10, I completed my work experience with Steve, helping him run a week-long school event. That was when he first showed me how to teach others the skills and tricks I'd learnt.

    More than ten years later, I still love the circus and juggling community. Whether I'm introducing someone to a new skill or helping them improve an existing one, I absolutely love what I do!

  • Winston Plowes

    Winston learnt to juggle at university in 1984 and has spent decades performing and teaching circus skills across Europe.

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    I learnt to juggle at university in 1984 and have worked as a professional entertainer and circus skills teacher for around 25 years.

    Over the years, I've travelled to every corner of Europe, performing at hundreds of major festivals and events.

    I've taught almost every age group and type of client imaginable, but I've never tired of that magical moment when someone learns to juggle for the first time. The surprise, excitement and sense of achievement never get old!

    I'm proud to have been part of Shooting Stars for many years. Being part of such a professional team has helped me expand my own teaching experience, and I look forward to sharing my skills for many more years to come.

  • David Ford

    David combines juggling, unicycling and circus performance with a passion for science and education, bringing learning to life through unforgettable experiences.

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    I started juggling as a teenager, beginning with balls, moving on to clubs and eventually discovering fire juggling!

    Along the way, I learnt diabolo, devil sticks, stilts, poi, staffs, spinning plates, unicycling and plenty more.

    While studying philosophy at Lancaster University, I helped establish a juggling society, which gave me the opportunity to develop my skills further.

    After spending twelve years working with adults with learning difficulties in London, I began performing and teaching circus skills professionally.

    My circus adventures have taken me to many countries. I've juggled knives on television's Eight Out of Ten Cats Does Countdown and even performed at Covent Garden on a freezing day when there was nobody watching!

    I put potatoes on the floor to act as my audience, only for a pigeon to arrive and start eating them!

    One of my favourite parts of the job is combining maths, physics, chemistry and philosophy with juggling and unicycling in the Circus Science Shows.

    Seeing someone's face light up when they achieve something new is always incredibly rewarding.

    Through Shooting Stars, I've helped deliver some of the largest workshops I've ever been involved in, working with schools, Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts from across the country.

  • Steve 'Brush' Broomhead

    Brush has been juggling since the 1980s and has performed internationally, from street shows to circus performances, before focusing on teaching others.

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    I started juggling sometime in the 1980s, and in 1990 I helped establish a juggling club in Manchester with a few like-minded people. It's still going today!

    I worked as a street performer for many years, including a spell performing with a circus in Jordan.

    My travels have also taken me to Singapore, where I performed at Kids Fest and Arts Fest.

    These days, I mainly focus on teaching circus skills, although I still enjoy the occasional performance.

    My personal favourites are juggling and a little close-up magic!

  • Dimitri Ogden

    Dimitri discovered juggling at just ten years old and has since travelled the world performing. He loves teaching, entertaining and finding new challenges!

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    I've been juggling since the age of ten, when I received three juggling balls as a Christmas present.

    Since then, I've travelled the world performing juggling shows and sharing my love of circus skills.

    Teaching has always brought me great joy, and I love helping others discover what they can achieve.

    When I'm not performing or teaching, you'll find me playing board games with my children, running through the Lancashire hills or balancing on my five-foot-high unicycle while trying to solve a Rubik's Cube!

  • Sam Veale

    Sam turned his university juggling hobby into a professional career, performing with major arts companies and sharing his juggling and balancing skills with all ages.

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    Juggling began as a hobby while I was at university, but after graduating I decided to turn it into my career.

    I've performed with the English National Ballet and Glyndebourne Opera Company, appeared at numerous cabaret venues and featured in more than 20 television commercials.

    I love sharing what I do and teaching a wide variety of juggling and balancing skills to children and adults alike.

  • Mark Taylor

    Mark has been running circus workshops for over ten years and loves sharing his enthusiasm for circus skills with children and adults of all abilities.

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    I've loved the circus since I was very young and learnt my skills at a dedicated circus skills school.

    I've been running circus workshops for more than ten years, performing and teaching at schools, festivals, events and children's parties.

    I enjoy working with people of all ages and abilities, including children and adults with additional needs.

    I don't think I'll ever grow tired of doing what I love, especially seeing the enjoyment and achievements of the people I teach!

  • Marty Bloomfield

    Marty's circus adventure began with a red unicycle and a wonderfully unusual postal round! He now shares his skills through workshops, performances and community events.

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    My introduction to circus skills began 33 years ago when I received a unicycle as a Christmas present while working as a postman in the North East.

    Naturally, it was Post Office red!

    I occasionally used it on my postal round, telling people that due to cutbacks, the Post Office had only given me half a bike. True story!

    My interest in circus skills continued to grow, and I completed a Performing Arts degree in the early 2000s.

    Since then, I've worked with schools, community groups and council events, and even made an appearance on CBeebies television.

    When I'm not juggling or unicycling, you'll find me skating, paddleboarding or relaxing with a nice cup of tea!

  • Erin Cunningham

    Erin specialises in hula hooping and fire performance, bringing creativity and excitement to workshops, festivals, weddings and theatrical events.

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    I specialise in hula hooping and fire performance, delivering a wide range of circus workshops, entertainment and shows.

    My work includes hula hoop workshops, hen parties, walkabout entertainment and stage performances using traditional and LED hoops, including mini isolation hoops.

    I also perform on stilts and work with a variety of fire props, creating solo performances, freestyle entertainment and choreographed group shows incorporating special effects and pyrotechnics.

    I particularly enjoy fire performances for weddings and theatrical Halloween events.

    I also have experience in aerial skills and am developing children's party entertainment and a street show, alongside my busking and performance work.

  • Emma Bloomfield

    Emma grew up learning circus skills with her dad, Marty, before training professionally and performing with Zippo's Circus. She now specialises in aerial rope and hula hoop.

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    I began learning circus skills at an early age with my dad, Marty.

    At 23, I quite literally ran away with the circus!

    I spent nine months training at the Academy of Circus Arts, a travelling circus school, before securing a contract performing in the main show at Zippo's Circus the following year.

    After returning home to the North East, I began delivering circus outreach sessions with my dad and established my own aerial club, teaching community classes.

    I continue to perform as a freelancer, specialising in aerial rope and hula hoop, although I can teach a wide range of ground-based and aerial circus skills.

    In my spare time, I enjoy walking my dog, reading, quad skating and pottering around in my garden.

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