UpDown Circus Festival is brought to you by Pitch'd Productions. We have a vision to create performances for a wide and diverse audience using primarily the Circus and Street Art forms. We value the experience and engagement of our audiences, and will seek new and innovative ways to achieve quality participation. We strive to support and sustain ourselves, and those we work with through good governance and best practice in all our creative and business endeavours. We aspire to support the development of the wider Circus and Street Performance sector through advocacy, education and creative development opportunities.
An annual festival offers us time to celebrate the art form that we love in the city that we cherish. Festival time is only the flowering of a team working throughout the year, and partnerships that developed through years of collaboration and trust. It’s a time artists, arts workers and audiences can come together to see new work, meet new people, and have new experiences.
2026 will be the 2nd edition of UpDown Circus Festival, and the full programme will be launched in July.
Those behind cultural events are key to ensuring that artists, audiences, partners, and the team itself, all enjoy the festival.
Fundraising & Communications
Cork-based creative producer and visual artist whose work focuses on community engagement, creative participation, and festival production. She holds an MA in Arts Management and Creative Producing from UCC and a BA in Fine Art from MTU Crawford College of Art and Design. Helen has worked across a range of festivals, including Cork Midsummer Festival, Kilkenny Arts Festival, and Towers and Tales Festival, and has worked as a freelance producer with The Everyman Bar, Cork. Her interests lie in developing accessible, welcoming cultural experiences that connect artists, audiences, and communities. Helen is excited to be working with UpDown 2026 in her Fundraising and Communications role.
Festival Director
Cormac Mohally is a juggling aficionado, and lover of all things Circus. Trained at Belfast Circus School in 1999, he toured the world performing comedy dance acrobatics with Lords of Strut, and founding member of Circus Factory. Running a festival has been a way for Cormac to reconnect with his home city after spending over a decade touring the world, and to support and showcase the wealth of circus artists who live on the island of Ireland to Cork audiences.
Graphic / Web Design
Designs brands, websites and objects. Enjoys good design in all forms. Once upon a time engaged in circus acrobatics, now just a clown, content with bringing his ideas to life with just a pencil and a mouse. Sole proprietor of Firelight Design Co. Usually refuses to speak about himself in third person but dislikes inconsistently presented information more.
Marketing and Social Media Coordinator
Sorsha Ní Fhógartaigh is an established traditional Irish musician, arts professional and fluent Irish speaker from County Tipperary. She graduated from University College Cork in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Irish and Sociology and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Arts Management and Creative Producing. Alongside her background in traditional music, Sorsha has a strong interest in dance, film, theatre, visual art and cultural programming. As Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for UpDown Circus Festival, she is delighted to combine her passion for the arts with creative storytelling, helping to connect new and diverse audiences with the festival’s vibrant programme!
Technical Manager
Edan Ray started his musical journey as a bass player, before moving on to composing and sound design for acrobatic, dance and circus shows. A great interest in music technology allowed him to find a niche where creativity and technicality meet. Specialising in concert and theatre sound, he expanded his knowledge into event production, and has developed a key working relationship with Cormac and Aysegul.
Volunteer Coordinator
Sara is currently completing an MA in Arts Management and Creative Producing at University College Cork, following a BA in Graphic Design and a background in Fine Arts. She has experience working across a range of festivals and creative projects, including Cork Midsummer Festival and Cork Fringe Festival. Her festival experience has also included opportunities through the Promenade Bursary Award, which supported her in attending and engaging with the wider festival and arts community. Having volunteered with UpDown Circus Festival last year, Sara is delighted to be returning for this year’s festival as Volunteer Coordinator!
Productions Manager
Motivated community and events professional with experience in volunteer coordination, event delivery and stakeholder engagement. Skilled in organising large-scale events, supporting community participation and maintaining efficient administrative systems. Strong communicator who works collaboratively with volunteers, organisations and the public to deliver inclusive, well-managed events.
Company DIrector
Noelle Ní Riagain is joint Director of Pitch’d Productions. A writer, storyteller, actor and clown, Noelle uses methodologies from theatre, comedy and performance art in her work, striving to make art that is accessible to every person; hence the draw to performing on the street. Noelle has toured nationally and internationally with her many characters, walkabout and street performances.
Festival Producer
In 2022, Aysegul Yuzel graduated from the UCC MA in Arts Management and Creative Producing and was quickly snapped up by IndieCork Film Festival for her producing skills and temperament. In 2024, she was awarded the Promenade Future Producers award and has been working as Project Manager for Promenade since February 2025. She is also the current Project Coordinator of Creative Places Tipperary Town. Aysegul is the engine that keeps the show on the road!
