Workdays and Weekends: Gemma Simpson

This week we catch up with the super talented Gemma Simpson from Adventure Circus and find out how she spends her busy workdays and weekends.  We have a right good catch up and chat everything from Gemma entertaining audiences balancing on a trapeze to enjoying a cosy night in with her husband, cat and a bottle of wine!

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?

I’m blessed with having an exciting day job at Triathlon Scotland, based at Stirling University, as Events and Marketing Manager for the sport.  During the day I’m either in the office, or out meeting people involved in the development of the sport.

I am even more blessed though to be the director of Adventure Circus in my spare time, a social enterprise dedicated to getting the people of Perth into circus!  We teach, we do lots of outreach in the community, we train hard and we perform.

2. What signals the start of your weekend / days off?

My weekend usually always starts with a cat jumping on my bed at 7am wanting fed, and then I make a massive breakfast as I am at work in our circus space on a Saturday from 12-7pm!

3. What makes for a perfect night in?

A perfect night in is with my husband, friends and cats, drinking wine and playing all of our favourite but ridiculous games.

4. What makes for a memorable day or night out?

I absolutely love weddings and so they are all my most memorable nights out.  I love seeing my husband in his kilt and getting dressed up without having to put on facepaint and a costume!  

Circus nights out are also always fun.  I had a really interesting night out with Stephen (my circus co-director) in Valencia a few years ago while at a circus bootcamp, but you will have to ask him all about that..!

5. Tell us about the weekend you’d love to live again?

I’d love to live the British Juggling Convention weekend again. It was in Perth this year, and Stephen and I were performing in the Gala show at Perth Concert Hall to our biggest audience ever.  It was also the one year anniversary of Adventure Circus and our students came along to see us alongside all of the other amazing acts.  It was really special.

If my husband is reading this, I’d also love to relive our wedding!

6. And now your best ever day at work?

My best day ever at work is every day I am at the circus.  It’s never a chore and to think that I am helping ordinary people to achieve extraordinary feats is just amazing.  I love it!

7. Any workday or weekend rituals?

My main ritual is to eat at every chance I can get!  I’m up early to get to Stirling for Triathlon, and I’m at the circus space til late so I hardly ever get the chance to sit down for tea.  I can’t leave the house without eating breakfast and I go everywhere with a bottle of water.

8. What’s in the perfect day off breakfast?

Eggs benedict New Zealand style.  Poached eggs, bacon and hollandaise, on a bed of roasted kumara. OMG it is amazing! It’s even better when eaten in NZ!

9. Any words of wisdom for us?

“If you can dream it, you can do it”  Jimmy MacElroy, Blades of Glory

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Gemma Simpson is the Director at Adventure Circus.  Find out More on their Directory Listing >>>