Contemporary circus company Ockham’s Razor, produced by Turtle Key Arts, bring their new show Collaborator to the Corn Exchange Auditorium in Newbury on Wednesday 11th March 2026.
Collaborator, produced by Turtle Key Arts, is performed by Ockham’s Razor co-artistic directors Charlotte Mooney and Alex Harvey. The show is an intimate aerial duet built around a suspended metal frame.
The piece draws on the performers’ long working relationship, using physical theatre and aerial movement to tell a story of collaboration in its widest sense: making art, making decisions and, sometimes, trying to build a life alongside someone else.
Reviews have described Ockham’s Razor as “full of joy, wonder and delight” (The Guardian), with the Evening Standard calling the company “magical”.
The show opens on Thursday 29 January at The Place in London, before touring to venues including The Lowry in Salford and The Corn Exchange in Newbury.
At a glance
- Duration: 50 minutes (no interval)
- Age guidance: 11+
- Image credit: Kie Cummings
- Presented by: Ockham’s Razor produced by Turtle Key Arts
- Funded by: Arts Council England; in association with MimeLondon and The Lowry
A return to duo form
After decades of creating large-scale ensemble productions and touring internationally, Collaborator marks a significant moment for the company. The new work pares things back, focusing on the creative relationship between its two founders.
Performed on a suspended metal frame, the 55-minute piece combines aerial performance with highly physical movement, exploring themes of creation, frustration, balance and care. The show features choreography by Nathan Johnson and costume design by Tina Bicât.
Charlotte Mooney and Alex Harvey said the work reflects their shared history:
“For 20 years we have been making circus together — lifting, catching and carrying; stepping on and around each other. We have been dropped and have picked each other up.
This new intimate duet is for anyone who has ever tried to make something with someone else.”
They added that although Collaborator is rooted in their own story, audiences may recognise elements of their own relationships in the piece.
Tickets and booking (Newbury)
- Venue: Corn Exchange Auditorium, Newbury
- Date: Wednesday 11 March 2026
- Time: 7.30pm
- Tickets: Full price £20.25 / Concessions £16.25 / Schools £13 (including booking fees)
- Book: https://cornexchangenew.com/events/collaborator
Opening up the rehearsal room
Alongside the tour, Ockham’s Razor is offering a rare opportunity for audiences, emerging performers, students and producers to observe the company’s rehearsal process.
Across four open rehearsal days, attendees will be invited to witness the live devising process behind Collaborator. The sessions are free to attend and offer insight into how one of the UK’s leading circus companies develops new work.
About the company
Ockham’s Razor has built an international reputation for visually bold productions that blend aerial theatre, sculptural equipment and storytelling. While often associated with joy, wonder and spectacle — The Guardian has described the company’s work as “full of joy, wonder and delight” — Collaborator offers a more stripped-back, reflective piece.
The production is funded by Arts Council England and N Smith Charitable Settlement, in association with MimeLondon and The Lowry, with additional support from artsdepot, Proteus Theatre and Flying Fantastic.
Tour dates at a glance
- 29–31 January 2026 – The Place, London
- 5–7 February 2026 – The Lowry, Salford Quays
- 11 March 2026 – The Corn Exchange, Newbury
Newbury is an easy South East tour stop for Oxfordshire audiences who want to see contemporary circus without travelling into London. The show’s short running time also makes it a good midweek option.
More information is available at ockhamsrazor.co.uk, with updates via @ockhamsrazoruk and @turtlekeyarts on social media.
