Juggling in Edinburgh
A list of where to juggle in Edinburgh, last updated 2023-05-23. It will be even less reliable than the disclaimer indicates if you're reading a long time after that.
Apologies this list isn't reliable. I've not attended any of the clubs since COVID-19 hit, and am not active on Facebook to keep track of what's going on. If you attend any circus clubs that include juggling, please consider keeping a listing up-to-date on the Juggling Edge.
Most of these clubs are open to all, including complete beginners. Except where noted, you will be welcome if you drop in unannounced at any time. Many people will be pre-occupied practicing, so don’t worry if you’re not noticed. Just introduce yourself to someone who seems least occupied.
- Think Circus have weekly community Jams in the old Debenhams in Leith. Website, Facebook.
- The University of Edinburgh Magic and Circus Society EUSA listing, Facebook group. Resulted from a merger of the magic society with the University of Edinburgh juggling club in around 2019/20.
- Fire club Edinburgh (web, Facebook). They meet by the pavilion on The Meadows near where Coronation Walk and Jawbone Walk meet. You’ll have to join the (closed) Facebook group to see what the current plans are (if any?). In the past it met on most Mondays (was called “Monday Meadows Fire Club”), weather permitting, from around 9pm, or later in Summer.
- Edinburgh Hoop Jams (Facebook): a Facebook group for irregular (Hula-)hooping meetups, classes, and workshops.
- Acro training: I don’t do any acrobatic stuff. Someone who does has a Facebook group, Acro Edinburgh, summarizing the options.
- Juggler’s corner (map). On nice summer days, you’ll sometimes find jugglers on “the meadows” (a park), between where Jawbone Walk meets Middle Meadow Walk. (Disclaimer: I don't know if many people juggle there any more, but you could be the new juggler who others find there!)
Clubs that ran pre-COVID
- Tollcross state circus (Facebook). Juggling and acrobalance club, ran for more than 30 years pre-covid, but no longer running at the time of writing. The old details were: Mondays 6:30–8:30pm at Tollcross Community Centre on Fountainbridge. Organized by gandolf (att) juggler.net. £1/£2. Does meet on bank holidays. There are usually only three days off a year: Easter Monday, the week of Christmas, and the Monday after that. Directions: enter this gate, go straight ahead and into the next courtyard. The Tollcross Community Centre entrance is on the right. Once inside turn left down the corridor, through some doors and find the main Tollcross Primary School hall.
- Juggle jam at Room to Move. Saturdays 6:30–9:30pm. Check status in Facebook group.
- Room to Move may also have other acro/circus things going on again.
Other notes
This list is maintained by an individual juggler. I don’t run any of the clubs, I just wanted to make them easier to find.
If you want to get some juggling stuff of your own to practice with, there is an Edinburgh-based business: Cascade Juggling. They used to have a shop on Clerk Street, but at the time of writing, they appear only to have a warehouse space, and sell online.
Hobby jugglers don’t necessarily perform, and I don’t. If you’re looking for a performer, please email someone else, perhaps a club organizer. If you want a job doing (performance or training), hire a professional. Professional circus performers or trainers in Edinburgh include (I don't keep track of these carefully): Think Circus, Circus Alba, Delighters, PyroCeltica, and Voice Box Theatre. Performers are usually not wealthy, but train hard. Even if you are a charity, please don't ask them to work for free, just as you wouldn't normally expect to get security, a venue, or equipment providers for free either.
See also: a similar page for Juggling in Pittsburgh, and world-wide club listings on The Juggling Edge.