IT will become the centre of excellence in its field for the entire country and will provide students with the facilities to learn their artistry and craft from seasoned industry professionals.

 

As of next month, a warehouse in Portobello will become the first space in Scotland dedicated entirely to circus arts.

Full Cirqle will open its doors to a range of budding performers in an effort to fine-tune the skills necessary for the greatest show on earth.

Its members already include acrobats, aerialists, parkour traceurs, actors, dancers, musicians, filmmakers, yoga teachers and physical therapists.

The premises will include a studio, two rehearsal areas, offices and a barn for aerial training such as trapeze, rope, hoop and silks.

Full Cirqle will be home to seven companies and up to 50 individual members, who will have 24/7 access to training space, facilities to run public classes and rehearsal space for shows.

Phyllis Martin, producer of The Commonwealth Youth Circus project for last year's Games, said: "It's one of those overnight successes that takes years of work.

"Everyone in the community is always looking for space and this opportunity was just too good to pass up."

Project manager Julie Laerkholm added: "It's not going to be a run of the mill place to work, but it will be a huge amount of fun."