Organised KAOS has grown from a youth programme (Keeping Adolescents Off the Streets) into an awesomely fiery, anarchic Welsh circus, drawing deep on its Celtic roots
Step into our time machine
What began as a youth outreach project in 2007, has grown into an innovative and award-winning social business based in Gwaun Cae Gurwen, in the heart of South West Wales.
Organised KAOS Youth Circus Ltd incorporated on the 6th of January 2010 and launched as a social enterprise on the 1st of July of that year.
Our activities and goals were encompassed by our acronym: Keeping Adolescents Off the Streets (KAOS). We took circus outdoors into the heart of our community, we played with fire, we changed lives.
Our roots are traditional, our approach is not.
Our social mission and business is now established as a force for change – we reinvest all profit from external events into job creation and subsidising our training school – supporting our circus community with regular affordable training locally & creating a Welsh circus legacy for future generations.
Our social circus company is thriving
Embracing the concept of social circus, we provide an art form that not only engages young people and our wider community but also cultivates optimism and broadens horizons inspiring our people to step beyond self-limiting beliefs and promoting equality through creative participation.
We incorporate the performance quality and artistic standards of a producing company with the community engagement and social mission of a genuine social enterprise, using circus as a catalyst for social change, we provide a voice which echoes through the community to ignite pride in both people and place.
We are an enterprising circus led by our social mission
CREATING community through Circus
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Our company objectives are:
⭐️ to create a centre of excellence for Circus Training in South West Wales
⭐️ to motivate young people and adults to become involved in their communities
⭐️ to encourage people to participate in the Arts
⭐️ to empower young people to realise their potential
⭐️ to create sustainable employment
Meet the Organised KAOS Team
Organised KAOS is led by a committed & business experienced Board of Directors.
our Board of Directors
Nicola Hemsley-Cole, Founder & Artistic Director
Nicola is our Founder and Leader. Having trained at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, she had a successful acting career for over two decades before settling back home in Gwaun Cae Gurwen. Nicola founded Organised KAOS after realising that young people in her community were still facing the same barriers to participation as she did when she was young. Nicola's passion and commitment has allowed Organised KAOS to thrive and become a stable and self-financing operation that’s an asset to her local community and the Arts in Wales.
Rae Davies, Chair of the Board
Rae is an industrial entrepreneur with a passion for the development of business and people in Wales. She has been involved with Organised Kaos since its inception and has extensive experience in developing people, projects and new innovations. Rae has an MSc in Strategic Leadership and a keen interest in all things outdoors, especially Tractors, Land Hovercrafts and Motorbikes.
Phillip Gordon-Andrews, Finance Director
Phillip is a senior technical delivery manager with British Telecom Ltd, responsible for budgetary management of large IT projects delivered internationally for the company. Seeking a lifestyle change, Phillip’s family relocated from Oxford to Gwaun Cae Gurwen and here their children found OK. Having seen the positive impact first-hand as his children were regular attendees, Phillip began to volunteer. He saw the tremendous opportunity that OK provides for individuals to grow in skills and confidence and got more and more involved with his new creative community. Nicola invited Philip to join OK’s board upon learning of his financial background in 2013 - a role he remains immensely proud of to this day!
Sharon Sunderland, Company Secretary & Director
Sharon has been with OK since 2015 as Company secretary and Director. Her background is in foundation phase education with 22 years’ experience. Currently, Sharon is an employment advisor for a Welsh government employability project. Sharon is passionate about her community and has dedicated 4 years as a councillor to the community council - her drive is to ensure sustainability of local services to all residents. Sharon is immensely proud of OK’s achievements in continuing to offer platforms of opportunity for young people to be part of the circus family which opens so many future doors in so many ways.
Meet our team
We partner & work with many other freelancers & companies on our events – creative, technical & dynamic to creating an organisation that is truly of its place.
Joe Coward
Joe joined OK at the age of 8. Joe is currently going in to his 3rd year at the National Centre of Circus Arts in London. He remains a freelance trainer and performer in our community and professional productions.
Ilana Hardy
Ilana is a second year student in Circomedia. She came up through our Youth Programme and now works at OK as a Youth Trainer.
Yuriy Antoniv
Yuri is a passionate Ukrainian who has toured all over Europe & internationally. His discipline is Duo Straps, and Trampoline.
Rebecca Shaw
Rebecca is from Swansea. She trained as a professional dancer before discovering the circus. Together with Yuri she has toured Europe & Beyond Performing their duo aerial straps routine.
Meg Spiers
Meg is Nicola’s right hand woman. She’s fierce and is up for giving anything a try! You can either find her upside down on a pole or working on massive events.
Jayne Williams
Jayne is a regular volunteer on the project from aerial to ground based. She is passionate about active communities and never misses a moment to celebrate and share her joy of circus.
Leilu Suter
Leilu is a Youth Trainer who has come up through our Programme and is now employed by OK to deliver training on community events.
Justin Owen
Justin joined OK as a 16 year old. He is still here 10 years later! The original pyro maniac & dynamic community trainer.
Emily Davies
Emily is a volunteer enabler. She is passionately all about our circus community and Loves her aerial hoop.
Param Bansi
Param joined OK in 2020 as our caretaker, whilst studying for his exams. Despite joining us on numerous events, we are yet to convince him that he needs to run away to the Circus.
Join our team
We’re always welcoming people who share our mission and values to join the OK family!
We have many opportunities available – from volunteering on classes or helping us manage the training school. Whatever your interest, if you love what we do we want to hear from you!
Become involved in our friendly social circus community
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