When people think of circuses they think of clowns and red noses, animals and sawdust.

“There’s none of that with us. We do a show where the audience is in the same space as the performers.”

So says Ali Williams, the creative director of Nofit State Circus, which is returning to Hove Lawns after scoring a big word-of-mouth hit with their show Tabu – Standing On The Edge Of The Wilderness last September.

“We had a couple of weeks free at the end of our season last year so we put Brighton in our tour,” says Ali.

“It did really well once word had got out, so we are hoping that will happen again with the Fringe Festival.”

This version of Tabu, subtitled My Fear And Yours, takes its lead from last year’s show.

“It is recognisable as the same show,” says Ali from London’s Roundhouse, where the circus is in the middle of a sold-out run. “We spent a few weeks developing new routines and there are some surprising new elements.”

What makes the circus so different is that the performers and the audience share the same space, following a pattern set up by the circus early in its history.

“We played about with form and did a promenade show because we couldn’t afford seating,” admits Ali, who was one of the five performers who set up the circus 22 years ago after leaving university in Cardiff.

“It turned out to be an exciting way of seeing and watching circus.

“All the action happens close up and people have a personal experience of watching the show depending on where they move around. We have people who come back night after night to watch the show from different angles.”

The concept for this show is about people being afraid to take steps in their life, and takes characters from Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s classic novel 100 Years Of Solitude.

“It is more a concept than a narrative about conquering your fears,” says Ali.

“All the characters start off semi-comatose, afraid to try things until someone comes along to show them what they can do.”

The idea is based around true stories, too.

“Our main rigger, who runs up and down to the top of the tent, was afraid of heights,” says Ali.

“He decided to become a rigger to overcome it, and move on from the boy who wouldn’t stand on a chair when he was younger.”

The circus is made up of 12 performers, four musicians, two performing riggers and a number of stewards responsible for moving the audience around safely.

With the total technical team and backstage crew, the people on the road number 40.

“It is like a genuine travelling community, which is part of the appeal for the people who live and work with circus,” says Ali.

The company itself is made up of performers both from traditional circus backgrounds and contemporary circus school, as well as those who the circus has trained themselves.

During its Hove visit the circus will be holding two sold-out workshops with local youngsters and adults, including members of the city-based The Circus Project.

“People who came out of our community productions in Cardiff are now professional performers,” says Ali.

“It’s that buzz word, legacy. It’s about what you leave behind.”

  • Starts 8pm, 3pm matinees on Sat and Sun, tickets £16/£12. Call 01273 709709.