About

Hotch Potch are a family performance company who specialise in Outdoor Arts and Street Theatre. Originally formed in 2012 by a group of students from the BA Street Arts degree at the University of Winchester. The company is now run by husband and wife; Laura and Ross Wheeler who met on the degree.

Stilt Walker has picture taken by mother and child

The Story of Hotch Potch

Hotch Potch began with the walkabout act Ka-Dunk-A-Junk. The company brought this metal clanging group of outsiders to the likes of London 2012 Olympics, Winchester's Hat Fair, Glastonbury Festival and across the seas to La Rue est a Amiens in France.

Students from Street Arts BA at University of Winchester

Later Laura and Ross relocated to Ross's home of Cornwall, where they were married and developed their practice creating a variety of ongoing walkabouts, human statues, fire performance and creative workshops. Then in 2014 they toured their first funded show which combined their interests of stilt walking, story telling and the theme of miniature to tour Café Petite.

Shortly after they started their family with their first child. Then in 2016 created the one man storytelling show The Tiny Tour.

Hotch Potch's Tiny Tour performed at the Eden Project Cornwall

Towards the end of 2017 the family then relocated to Laura's home of Northern Ireland, where their second child was born. In 2018 they created Detritus of the Deep. Which was commissioned by Pitch'd Circus Arts Festival in Cork Ireland.

Environmental performance Detritus of the Deep from Hotch Potch

Environmental awareness began to take the central theme for Ross and Laura's work and they then went on to create The Washed Up Mermaid in 2020. Both acts are currently available to book through our Performances page

In 2023 with the help of Feast Cornwall, Hotch Potch piloted a new project- Deep Sea Disco. An inclusive family rave which took place at Redruth Community Centre. This is a project that will be further explored in 2024 by Ross and Laura who are excited about creating a disability and LGBTQ+ friendly space.

Read more here- Deep Sea Disco

As passionate Street Performers, Ross and Laura continue to make work exploring environmental issues, unforgettable intimate performances and immersive experiences that are widely accessible.

Hotch Potch are proud to work closely with town councils and BID's across Cornwall to bring high quality street theatre and outdoor arts practices to public spaces.

Hotch Potch at Newquay Cornwall's annual Zombie Crawl.

In 2024/2025 Laura focuses on developing her creative practice an an outdoor artist whilst studying an MA in Arts Health and Wellbeing.

Ross' work with Cornwall based circus charity- Cirk Hes continues to develop as an administrator and teaching specialist, supporting disabled people and families including those with neuro diversities.