A Clown, a Juggler, and a Poet

“I'm a playful person… I just have a childish sense of humor.”

This is how Jamie Adkins describes himself - this eclectic clown, juggler, balancing artist and one-hundred percent poet.

Nowhere is this quality of finding humor and magic in everyday things more evident than in his newest creation. In Circus Incognitus, Jamie is featured as a man who has something to say, but can’t quite get it out. In trying to talk, he’s constantly getting distracted.

The distractions in this one-hour, one-man circus comedy manifest into unforgettable circus acts. The feats of magic The New York Times has called “infinitesimal acts of imperceptible genius.”

Whether he’s doing his jaw- dropping dance with a ladder or balancing upon a slack wire with a jaw full of ping-pong balls, Jamie Adkins in Circus Incognitus is a one man theatrical tour de force.

Yet he shies away from describing himself as a daredevil.

“I walk on a rope that's six feet off the ground, and juggle and do handstands, but I've practiced so much, it's second nature. Before every show, I walk on the rope for about a half-hour. I just walk back and forth, and I can honestly say it's the most relaxing part of my day.”

“I'm not an actor. Who I am in my show is basically who I am in life. I am kind of a silly, nervous, adventurous, curious person. “

It is this endearing, relatable characteristic that makes Jamie Adkins such a lovable clown. Possessing a uniquely universal appeal, both kids and adults are drawn into his performances. Even the modern-age “everything electronic-loving” kids are unable to hide their exuberance during his shows.

“The more our entertainment is electronic or just put up on a little screen for us to passively watch, the more going to a circus becomes even more exciting. There's nothing like being close enough to see (performers) doing things that don't seem possible...”

If Circus Incognitus is about trying new things and never giving up then it is indeed this desire that led Jamie Adkins on his path to becoming a multidisciplinary acrobat

“I didn't learn acrobatics as a child. I learned when I decided I wanted to work in a circus. At 22 years old, I learned how to do a cartwheel. I took a beginning acrobatic class with a bunch of seven- and eight-year-olds. I can tell you, if you learn acrobatics at the age of 22, you will become a clown.”

Jamie Adkins began his career at the age of 13 in San Diego, where he delighted passers-by as a street performer. Later, in San Francisco, he joined the Pickle Family Circus and subsequently Montréal's Cirque Éloize. With his numerous talents and years of experience, he was soon an integral member of the Cirque Éloize family of artists, making an invaluable contribution to the show Excentricus. In over 500 performances of this production, Jamie distinguished himself with his unique style that faithfully and humorously conveyed the essence of the ordinary man.

Jamie again teamed up with Cirque Éloize to produce Typo, a show of his own creation, which toured the world giving more than 200 performances over 2 years. He won the admiration of critics and adoration of the circus-going public and became a featured soloist with Cirque du Soleil.

Circus Incognitus made its Off-Broadway debut at New York's New Victory Theatre last February to glowing reviews and the show was nominated for a New York Drama Desk Award. Since then Jamie has travelled the show to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Santa Lucia International Festival in Monterrey, Mexico, and the Praktika Theatre in Moscow.

Jamie Adkins continues to forge ahead on his career path, always seeking new ways to develop his artistry. More than ever before, Jamie shows his audiences, in his own unique way, the full range of his talents. He has taken his performance far beyond the bounds of a single role and created an artistic event that springs from his own inner world.