User:Avs5221/thegeneratingcompany

The Generating Company is an international touring circus and development program based in London, England and Le Buisson-de-Cadouin, France. The company premiered to critical success at the Millennium Dome until moving operations to The Circus Space in Hoxton. Although the company appeared successfully on the show Dragons' Den, it was forced in 2009 to move its training school to France due to financial problems.

Formation
The Generating Company founder, Paul Cockle, collaborated with Peter Gabriel, Mark Fisher, Archaos Circus founder Pierrot Bidon in 1998 to create a show for the Millennium Experience, a exhibition hosted at the Millennium Dome to welcome the third millennium. The crew turned to Circus Space, which offers the only national diploma in circus skills. With little more than a year until opening night, Circus Space formed an accredited program and trained 87 aerial performers for the Dome show.

The Dome show premiered on New Year's Eve, 1999. While the Dome itself was mired in controversy and financial woes, the show opened to critical success. With only a year long contract at the Dome, many of the show's performers considered a return to Circus Space to continue their careers. When the show closed at the end of 2000, about 20 of the performers returned to Circus Space to form The Generation Company, a small traveling company that retained many of the characteristics of the original Dome performance.

Financing and schools
Following their success at the Dome and Circus Space, The Generating Company received a £70,000 grant from the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts and grants from the Arts Council England to begin a touring company. After a local show, Storm, performed at Circus Space in Hoxton, The Generating Company began pursuing a "fusion of professional training with an extended performance contract linked to future touring opportunities." it opened its first school in 2002, offering summer courses devised for children interested in circus skills. It also hosted programs at Trinity Buoy Wharf through 2009.

In 2008, The Generating Company was forced to move the majority of its professional schooling to Le Buisson-de-Cadouin, France. Paul Cockle cited a lack of funding from the Arts Council and inability to grow artistically. This is contrast with internal Arts Council reviews, which suggested a sustained growth in circus arts in the UK. Regardless, The Generating Company moved the majority of its operations to France in 2009, where it still operates today.

Dragons' Den
The Generating Company successfully appeared on the Dragons' Den in December, 2005. Represented by Paul Cockle, Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis decided to invest in the company. Together they invested £160,000 into the company and own a 40% stake.