Growing up in Yorkshire Dales Poppy has always loved creating shows, costumes and visual art in the countryside. She left Settle to study BA Drama at the University of Manchester, specialising in community theatre and workshop facilitation. It is here that she fell in love with circus and interactive children’s theatre.
Performer and Workshop Facilitator
Poppy Avison-Fell: Director of Poppins Presents
She joined a Manchester fire troupe, where she learnt and performed fire poi and fire fans. Combining her love for the outdoors and art, she began creating outdoor theatre for festivals. She graduated in 2017, this is when her passion for circus and theatre joined forces. She toured India with the social circus Performers Without Borders, performing circus shows and delivering circus workshops at charity organisations across India.
On her return, she moved to Leeds and set up her own entertainment company Poppins Presents. Poppins Presents all things playful, providing shows and workshops for all people in every place. Poppy creates interactive street theatre and delivers workshops in circus, drama, crafts and guided storytelling. Through interactive acts, silly circus and mindful meditations Poppy creates stories that discover the power of our imagination and the endless possibilities of play.
Poppins Presents has now been running for 5 years. We have our own touring Children’s Entertainment Stage and a growing cast and crew. We offer unique and bespoke children’s parties across Yorkshire, with glowing reviews. We are constantly making new shows and developing new acts!
We have travelled globally delivering workshops and performances to ensure that everyone can access play. We set up the company in June 2018, since then we have performed and delivered workshops globally in a variety of places and communities.
We have delivered circus and crafts workshops for the Elderly (Leeds Playhouse, Chorlton Neighbours) and Special Needs Groups (Aware UK, DIY Theatre Company, Mind the Gap). Our shows Hippy Poppins and Pirate Poppins have toured the UK from Scotland to the South of England. In September 2019, we provided the family entertainment area for Goulash Disko, Vis Croatia. In July 2022 we ran our Children’s Stage “The Poppins Tent” at Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival.
Play is a universal language, it provides a safe space for sharing and learning for all ages, abilities and communities.