The Unfinished Work of Camille Claudel

Camille Claudel was an Impressionist sculptor in France at the turn of the century. She defied expectations of women at the time by creating dynamic pieces that shocked the art establishment. Single-handedly, Camille manipulated marble into artworks that tenderly exposed the full range of her subjects’ humanity. She was a visionary, but Claudel’s genius came at a price.

People’s Circus Theatre blends circus, dance, and physical theatre to tell Camille’s story. In this stunning homage, Claudel’s art is brought to life through movement. "The Unfinished Work of Camille Claudel" is a passionate revelation of art in the face of adversity.

People's Circus Theatre

People’s Circus Theatre is a growing performing arts organization based in San Francisco that blends circus and theatre in ensemble-based productions. Founded in 2023 by seasoned performer, producer and director Felicity Hesed, People’s Circus Theatre delivers poignant, thought-provoking and memorable experiences that win new audiences back to the wonder of live performance, through a unique blend of theatre, dance, and circus arts. People’s Circus Theatre creates high-quality performances, employs local artists, develops the next generation of performers, and produces shows that are highly accessible for diverse audiences. People’s Circus Theatre’s former shows include "Reindeer Games" and "The Nightingale."

Artist Biographies

Felicity Hesed

Felicity is the Founder and Artistic Director of People's Circus Theatre (PCT). With PCT she has written and directed "Reindeer Games" and "The Nightingale." She made her Off-Broadway directing debut with the world premiere of "{IN}TANGIBLE" at Theatre Row in Manhattan. Felicity was one of the directors on the 2024 remount of "The Speakeasy: The Age of Scofflaws," San Francisco's longest running immersive show.

Felicity is well known for her outstanding work as Artistic Director at Circus Center from 2021-2023, including her groundbreaking adaptation of "The Secret Garden" in 2021 and remounted at the Children’s Creativity Museum in 2022. Before the pandemic in 2020, Felicity's solo show "Cara Vita: A Clown Concerto" toured to San Francisco, Asheville, and London. Felicity directed and produced Circus Pop Ups! in 2021, a series of pop up performances at iconic SF locations that incorporated live circus and music. Felicity's film documentary of Circus Pop Ups! won the Audience Choice Award in the Circus International Film Festival 2022.

Rachael Servello

Rachael is a US based choreographer who has been developing work and performing for over 15 years. Rachael holds an MFA in Dance from Washington University in St. Louis, and an Associate's in Dance from Santa Monica College. Recently she was a guest speaker at Tanzahoi Dance Festival in Hamburg, Germany.

Rachael studied under company members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Karen McDonald (Director, Debbie Allen Dance), choreographer Doriana Sanchez, Shana Lord (Quidam), Petra Sprecher (Quidam), and Joshua Ryan Zhener (Kooza). Her previous performances include Dolly Parton Entertainment, Santa Monica Opera, Modesto Opera, Circus Lena, and Ramos Bros. Circus. She has worked extensively in arts outreach with Cirque Du Soleil, Children of the Night, Camp Ubuntu, Refuge Recovery, and the Department of Justice.

Mikayla Dinsdale

Mikayla Dinsdale began her training at the San Francisco Circus Center at ten years old. She continued her career at ÉSAC (École Supérieure des Arts Du Cirque) in Brussels, Belgium. Recent credits include: Immortals of Aveum (motion capture artist), The Secret Garden (a Circus Center production), Reindeer Games and The Nightingale with People's Circus Theater, and the off-broadway production of {IN}TANGIBLE. She is thrilled to be working once again with the incredible cast and crew of PCT to help bring Felicity Hesed's beautiful storytelling to life.

Yasmina Bourdais

Yasmina is an Alumni of the San Francisco Youth Circus, the pre-professional performance program at Circus Center. She currently attends SFSU, double majoring in Cinema and Race & Resistance, with an interest in combining Film with Circus Arts. (Check out her film “Traversing Tarot” on YouTube, an official selection of the 2023 Circus International Film Festival). Yasmina has performed in People’s Circus Theater productions including Reindeer Games and The Nightingale.

Lex Baesen

Lex is a San Francisco based acrobat, Chinese pole artist, and hoop diver. They’re originally from Chesapeake, Virginia and received their BA in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2016. Lex is a company member of The People’s Circus Theatre and is grateful to have been Acro Captain in PCT’s production of The Nightingale as well as choreographer in the company’s production of The Secret Garden. When working as a soloist or ensemble member Lex brings their technical skill, creativity, and energetic presence to every production.

Rosemary Le

Rosemary Le is a multidisciplinary circus artist specializing in the aerial cyr wheel. She grew up with a varied movement background, but always felt like a dancer at heart. While pursuing her Psychology/Neuroscience PhD at Stanford University, she discovered the aerial arts which literally lifted her out of an existential crisis. When she stepped foot into the San Francisco Circus Center, she knew that a circus sabbatical was in her future. Since then, she has performed with companies such as People's Circus Theatre and Circus Royale, in productions such as Seattle’s Moisture Festival and Paul Nathan & Paul Dabek’s Holiday Hocus Pocus, in the Bay Area, Greater Los Angeles Area, and beyond.