High Jinks Productions

I am mesmerized by High Jinks every time I see them perform. High Jinks, to me, is like a circus for hire. They have stilt walkers, jugglers, fire dancers, even a guy who walks on nails and glass and swallows swords. I have always wondered where they find these people, so when I came across the sword swallower at Art Al Fresco this summer, I asked him how he got his job. Apparently, this wacky trade is his family business. His parents and grandparents were involved in the circus, and he sort of inherited the skill set. I bet he has some good stories to tell.
You can see the High Jinks performers all over the city. They work for hire. But if you’re planning on asking them to do something, ask in advance because they’re in demand and can be hard to wrangle if you wait until the last second.
Besides the acts I’ve already mentioned, their merry band includes aerial gymnasts/​trapeze artists, puppet masters, and theatrical performers as well as a host of custom costume and set designers.
Kristina Isabelle and Eoin O’Brien, the group’s ringleaders, also teach stilt walking classes to people of all ages but mainly children. They operate under the name Grimaldi Circus Kids. You can catch their students at the summer Gallery Hops. Walking in big Hop crowds is good practice for them. Their professional stilt shows are amazing. I once saw a show where they wore flamingo suits, and the flamingos had these big, floppy heads that they moved all around as they walked. It was fabulous.

When I lived in Australia I took circus classes (go with me here…) and got to try my hand at things like juggling (yes, I learned), high wire, trapeze, spanish web, etc. It was amazing!!! Until I broke my foot. Then I was forced to be sidelined watching everyone else have fun. This is how and when I perfected my juggling. Well, I’m back and better and was searching for something like that in Columbus– thinking I wouldn’t possibly have any luck– when as luck would have it I came across High Jinks. My soul is at peace now that I have found one-​on-​one instruction with my beloved spanish web. But never fear– they can teach you how to:
–walk on stilts
–Juggling and Balance Acts
–Aerial Work — trapeze, harness, and cradle act
–Fire Performances — poi, hula hoop, staff, and fire eating
–Danger Acts –walking on glass, swords, and a bed of nails
Let’s face it– we’ve all got that inner child that wants to run away with the circus. But lucky for us, it’s right here and Columbus and we don’t have to pack our bags.