Aerialist’s show for friend who lives in the St Pancras clocktower

Published: 10 February, 2011
by DAN CARRIER

IT’S a remarkable birthday gift for a man with a remarkable home – and a spectacular way to mark half a century.

Peter Tompkins, who lives in the clock tower at St Pancras station, has been given a unique gift for his 50th by a friend – who happens to be an award-winning aerial performance artist.

Gisele Edwards has taken over his sitting room, which has a 50ft ceiling for the next three days. Based in the iconic clocktower of the historic Midland Hotel attached to the station, she plans to use it to show off her skills.

Giselle met Peter at a party two years ago and they became firm friends. Peter let it slip that he had bought a flat in the roof of the Midland and that his sitting room’s ceiling soared upwards. 

It meant Gisele had the perfect space to offer him a birthday bash this week with a difference.

Gisele said: “As soon as I met Peter and he mentioned where he lived, I had decided I wanted to do it. I just knew it would be a great space.”

Peter, an actuary for an insurance company, said: “Gisele was a friend of a friend and when we met I asked her what she did. She said she was an aerialist and so I said, ‘oh, I have a very tall room at home’. Her eyes lit up.”

The Gothic Victorian pile was built in 1863 by William Barlow and after a torrid existence – the hotel closed 75 years ago and in 1967 the magnificent building was threatened by bulldozers – has been recently converted into penthouse flats. The hotel below is due to re-open next month. 

Yet having such a high ceiling has meant the room has not always been easy to find a regular use for it. The original cast-iron stairs still snake round the walls to a room where the winding gear was based – it is now done electronically – and a box that contained the weights make another attractive feature. 

Peter added: “It is a privilege to live in this building and this room is such a lovely feature. It is perfect for Gisele.”

Gisele said she much preferred to show off her skills, which include dangling upside down 50ft up without a proper safety harness, in places that were not theatres or circus rings. She said she had always dreamt of performing at other large, historic Camden landmarks. 

She said: “I have always wanted to perform at the British Museum’s Great Court and in the British Library.”

Gisele, who trained at the Swiss Cottage-based Central School of Speech and Drama, decided to add to her repertoire as an actor by learning some circus skills. It got her into rope work, which means she is known as an “aerialist”.

She said: “I did not really qualify for circus school – you normally have to be a diver, a gymnast or a rock climber.” 

After completing the training, she helped to found the company Shunt and has since won awards. 

She added: “Often it is scary and sometimes quite painful. It is like torture – after all, you are tying yourself up in a rope and being suspended in the air.”

Peter has now invited 180 friends to come and watch the performance over three nights.

Gisele added: “It’s such a privilege to use this unique space and mark my friend’s big day.”