The Hilltop Circus is back this year with “Hilltop Circus and the Chocolate Factory” – an artistic interpretation of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” – capping off the Pine Hill School’s winter-long block of circus skills.

The circus, held traditionally every February, is the capstone project of seventh- and eighth-graders at Pine Hill at High Mowing School in Wilton, following their block of physical education focusing on the circus. Teacher Jon Roitman said the project is student-led, with the classes picking the theme of the show and figuring out ways their skills can be interpreted in the story.

“It’s an experience like no other,” Roitman said. “We’re really proud of it, and our middle-school students. It’s a really fun show whether you’re watching it to see the experience the middle-schoolers are having on stage, or just to see the amazing things they do like any other circus performance you might watch.”

Flying acrobats simulate Charlie and Grandpa Joe floating after taking an illicit sip of Fizzy Lifting Drinks; Chinese yo-yos become the nuts sorted by Willie Wonka’s trained squirrels, and aerial silks become the iconic chocolate waterfall.

“We’re going on that journey, and the kids have all put their own spin on the characters,” Roitman said. “It’s very much a student-inspired show.”

Sandwiched between blocks of more-traditional sports, Pine Hill seventh- and eighth-graders prepare for the Hilltop Circus from October to February, putting to use skills that some of them have been polishing as early as the third grade. 

The first Hilltop Circus was held in 1996, and it has always featured skills that include tumbling, human pyramids, acrobatics, juggling, balance feats, clowning and aerial acts.

Learning these skills begins in the first grade, which includes tumbling and acrobatics and balance beams, until students progress through the more-advanced skills. Some of them have carried on the interest outside of school, with Roitman’s youth circus, Flying Gravity. Flying Gravity grew out of a desire for children to continue learning the circus skills they were taught in their winter block, Roitman said, and the school and Flying Gravity still have partnerships today.

“You really see a great mix of skills. Some are pre-professional, and others who are just beginning on the journey of learning these skills, but it all works together to build the show,” Roitman said. “Whether they’re juggling three balls, five balls or seven clubs, each child has a way they contribute.”

The more-experienced children offer help and an “example of what is possible” to their less-experienced compatriots, which Roitman said is also part of the learning experience for them.

“The life skills they learn from helping and teaching each other are really instrumental,” Roitman said.

If students carry on to high school at the High Mowing campus, the school offers a circus studies program.

“Hilltop Circus and the Chocolate Factory” will perform shows Thursday, Feb. 15, to Saturday, Feb. 17. Shows are 4 p.m. on Thursday, 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. All shows are held at the Pine Hill auditorium. The shows are open to the public, and entrance is by donation.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.