" There's lovely you look!"

"Charlie Christmas " spread even more joy over November up in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valleys, famous as the site of the first International Rugby match between England and Wales this once bustling mining town rang with christmas tunes and giggles galore as  Mr Bubbles as " Charlie Christmas", challenged the children and adults alike, to see who could make the most and biggest bubbles while he checked who had been naughty and who had been nice.    

“It’s such a fun interactive act , no wonder they love you ! ”
— "Bernie" Events Co-ordinator RCT

Let there be light!

Pontypridd Town Centre resounded to the sounds of Christmas tunes and happy laughter this November as Charlie Christmas rode his interactive Musical Christmas Bubble Workshop through the High Street, stopping often to gather a crowd, have a Christmas Quiz, check who's been good, give out prizes and make many many bubbles with the help of his Christmas Elves.  

“Just wanted to say an enormous Thank You! for coming along to the “Ponty Switching On”.

Everyone I spoke to loved Mr Bubbles as “ Charlie Christmas “ on his trike! It was so lovely to see you again and hopefully you are available so we can book you again for next year? ”
— Jan Fry Senior Executive Officer Pontypridd Town Council

"More Danger in The Lakes"

"More Danger in The Lakes"

High Fellside Hall, a multi million pound manor farmhouse on the edge of The Lake District became the site of some dangerous goings on for a group of ten lifetime friends who wanted to stage a reunion with a difference.

Having seen the media training we did for the launch of new The Kingsman film , The Magnificent Seven and their friend Joel Hicks, their theme was " More Danger!" 

So we came up with a melange of circus skills, a ladle full of western skills, a large dollop of zombie apocalypse sauce, a pinch of secret agent skills and just a smidgen of downright silly fun stuff to make sure their weekend away was truly memorable.    

“The range of activities you trained us in, ticked boxes on my bucket list I didn’t even know existed” ”
— Michael Stevens Digital Entrepeneur and Chef

For your own " Taste of Danger" speak to the Head Chef of Fear on 07875 826773 , email ahandfulofhats.co.uk or have a burchers hook at out Workshop pages .. " You choose , We Stand and Deliver! 

“Thank you from the heart of my bottom for the fantastic weekend, everyone who can still speak from the screaming say they had a glorious time. ”
— Brian Gumbley Financier and head bean counter.

Whips crack and ducks quack!

Whips crack and ducks quack!

Enormous fun working with the cast and crew of the popular science quiz programme " Duck Quacks Don't Echo" We had to teach the Presenter Lee Mack and his star guest Danny Baker  how to crack a whip , needless to say Danny had forgotten to mention that he had been hit by a whip whilst having a go as a young man and was terrified of them , needless to say he was a trouper and got there in the end .  

“You Sir! are a natural showman! It was an enormous pleasure and great fun to work with you, many thanks for all your efforts. ”
— Lee Mack , Presenter, Comedian, Actor

The whips used were 2 X 4ft " AHOH Workshop Wonders" custom built by Rufus Ruffcut in paracord to copy some of my original  green hide Australian bullwhips and 1 X 6ft Joe Strain bull whip previouly owned by the legendary Vince Bruce. 

Home on the Range

Home on the Range

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When the extraordinary Joel Hicks, actor, photographer, extreme athlete and fundraiser wanted to add to his skills , we were delighted to visit his 14 acre homestead in the rolling countryside of Leicester and gave him a day to remember of whip cracking, knife and axe throwing, fire eating and fie whip cracking. We then worked on those to a performance level so that he can spread the joy with his charity foundation http://www.alwayswithasmile.com/ 

A full range of circus , cowboy, and "more danger" workshops are available for individual and groups please see here for more details or phone 07875 826773 or email ahandfulofhats@gmail.com 

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Watch him in action : 

Fancy being a Dinosaur for us?

Fancy being a Dinosaur for us?

Well , I may not be in the first spring of youth, but there's no reason to make a point of it! I thought when Ruth from the BBCs Natural History Unit asked me , but when she explained, I had to say Yes! 

Especially as it meant working with the legendary TV presenter and adventurer Steve Backshall on his latest programme #DeadlyDinosaurs. The theory is that the mighty Diplodoccus may have used its gigantic tail as a whip like weapon. Could Steve be taught to crack a whip like a dinosaur and test it's destructive power? With up to five cameras in use including a high speed Dragon look out for the edition in April next year , we had fun, Steve had fun , Dippy had fun. Thanks Ruth.    

Brighton Bulldog Picnic

Well it was actually Lavant but every year the Bulldog Rescue and Rehousing Society hold an annual fundraising Fete and we were delighted to be asked to support this noble cause.

With bull dogs, pug and Frenchies as far as the eye could see Charlie Bubbles was kept busy making bulldogs, flowers, swords, teddy bears, and designer dogs for the happy campers 

"Here be Dragons!"

Captain Bloodknock manned the Recruiting Office to see who wanted to join the 3rd Battalion The Royal Dragonaires!. He put them through their paces to ensure they were brave enough, strong enough and pretty enough to help guard this proud nations' Dragons.

Two fun shows were finished off by assisting the talented Mr Russell Wells in a Dragon Balloon Modelling Workshop that saw hundreds of children and adults alike making the longest mobile dragon sculpture in Wales. What fun was had!  The Dragons Tail of Fire! The Popadum Machine Gun, The Sword Fight of Doom! The Dragon Egg and Spoon Race , " How to call a Dragon" The Dance of a Thousand Dragon Tails! were just a few of the unique parts of this especially written show for Margam Parks Dragons Quest Day           

“Brilliant show at Margam Park today, the children loved it, especially the whip of fire! ”
— Richard James Allen

Wowing them in Worcester!

A wonderful workshop of wonders in the wilds of Worcester saw A Handful of Hats working with that esteemed corporate circus entertainer Thomas Trilby to deliver a day long jamboree of juggling, stilts, spinning plates, hat manipulation, diablo and a downright joyous day of fun .   

Captain Bloodknock goes potty at Ponty Lido!

Celebrating the 90th birthday of The National Lido of Wales saw Captain Bloodknock playing out the role of the Lidos' very first Baths Supervisor.. (which was quite appropriate and even funnier as Peter taught a number of the pools' existing managers whilst he was the senior sports management lecturer at Barry College :-) ) Dressed in his finest, he entertained the queues all day with period banter, stiff warnings about their behaviour and appalling dress sense....  plus a bit of magic and balloon modelling he learnt on his travels.. dontcha you know! He even took the opportunity to visit his old regiment, though why the chaps thought it was a laughing matter was beyond him! 

Circus Pony Workshops in Pontyclun

Circus Pony Workshops in Pontyclun

The local community have recently revived an old tradition of a traditional Village Fete in the popular hamlet of Pontyclun and have added some original twists and additions that have proved very popular. Dog shows, Childrens Games, craft burger kitchen and german sausage stall, fairground rides, picnics, a wonderful range of musical entertainment, side shows and stalls of unique local produce plus of course our very own A Handful of Hats Circus Workshop of Wonders with bi-lingual tutors and unique activities and circus skills. .   

“The children and adults had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed your quality entertainment and unique teaching style ! :-) Thank you so much and can we please book you for next year? ”
— Thomas Smith Attraction Co-ordinator

"Let's go fly a kite! "

Porthcawls Summer Carnival is renowned for its' colourful Parade and it was an honour to be asked to head up this years celebration of Musical Entertainment with Flying Officer Kite and his Magnificent Musical Magical Bubblicious almost Flying Machine.  

The parade which lasts an hour and runs along the coast was topped of by a very well attended Circus Workshop at the Carnival Grounds , made all the better by a young lady who joined us last year, was so inspired by that years workshop, she promptly bought herself a unicycle and taught herself how to ride it,. we added to her skills with teaching her four ball juggling, plate spinning, hat manipulation and poi.. a happy young lady ...     

Cowboys in Cornbury! The Wild West comes to Woodstock!

Cowboys in Cornbury! The Wild West comes to Woodstock!

Pecan Petes' Wild West  Show and Wandering Workshop Show of Wonders pulled up in this sleepy Cotsworld town this summer and set the place alight with razzle dazzle displays of gun twirling, whip cracking, roping, lasso spinning , horse racing, cowboy magic and other such tom foolery.  

“Is that moustache real? Is that gun real? Is that a real horse? Can I have your autograph?”
— Pollyanna of Andover..

Ding dong the bells are going to chime!

Ding dong the bells are going to chime!

Will you marry us? well we couldn't say no could we? Especially as it was to be an Alice in Wonderland Wedding in deepest Dorset, and with all the guest in their best party frocks it was the perfect setting . Congratulations to Sam and Lizzy McEvilly for a glorious day and many thanks for the kind words.   

“Thank you so much, it meant the world to me and Lizzy and our day wouldn’t have been every bit as wornderful as it was without your presence, ceremony, guidance, direction and showmanship, you are an amazing and wonderful man.”
— Sam and Lizzy McEvilly Dorset

And of course in addition to the Meet and Greet, Handfasting Ceremony and Toastmastering we had to have a bit of a Mad Hatter show didn't we!   

If you go down to the woods today!

If you go down to the woods today!

As it's fuelled by bubbles, Flying Officer Kite soon got his new ground crew trained up and they worked hard to get him up in the air again.. 

Chocs Away !

Chocs Away !

Flying Officer Kite got the Seaside Summer Season off to a flying start by swooping in at Skyfest, a celebrations of the Summer Solistice and Kite Flying at The Knap Barry in June 

Pirate Captain Perilous Pete on the trail of Captain Morgan

Pirate Captain Perilous Pete on the trail of Captain Morgan

It's long been said that the beautiful Tredegar House nr Newport Wales, a National Trust property may or may not have hosted the most famous of Welsh pirate buccaneers, Captain Morgan, but what we do know is that they made Perilous Pete , The Scourge of the Severn  very welcome the last weekend of May as part of their Pirate weekend!  With threee days of pirate antics, trails, quizzes, stories, tours, pirate tests and a jolly good soaking, hundreds of new pirates signed up for Perilous Petes' next cruise! 

““ Perilous Pete was just fabulous, the effect on the children and adults was fantastic, they all bought ionto the character and they all so wanted to sign up as pirates “ ”
— Visitor Experience Manager, National Trust Tredegar House

Rain doesn't worry a Welsh fireman, or his children for that matter!

Rain doesn't worry a Welsh fireman, or his children for that matter!

A damp start to the Summer of Fun at Aberdare Park did not deter the dinosaurs or the circus workshop fun we provided for a grand day out in the Park. With a new play area for the very young , fabulous balloons from Russell at Pick N Mix Circus and juggling, diablos, kendamas, pedalgo's, spinning plates, bubbles, dragon tails to keep everyone busy, they soon forget all about the raindrops.