The artistic director of 7 Doigts de la Main, or 7 fingers, talks to GRAHAM MOODY about the company's forthcoming Traces performance at New Wimbledon Theatre as well as playing in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance.

Graham Moody: So what exactly is Traces?

Gypsy Snider: It is the second creation by our company the 7 Fingers and features five young, incredibly dynamic, multi-talented acrobats and circus performers. The idea of this show is to somehow create the most energising, electrifying hour and 20 minutes between five young people who are trying to share their creativity and themselves with the audience as if there was no tomorrow.

GM: So the premise is that there is no tomorrow?

GS: Well yes, but we tend not to focus on that. The show was created with the premise of there is no tomorrow but it's not a doomsday show. There's no concrete future for these youngsters and that became the premise. We were inspired by the political climate, the environmental climate we live in, the feeling young people live with today, that global what is the next catastrophe feeling.

GM: The cast also share personal stories and experiences don't they?

GS: All the performers have text about themselves and each performer has these moments with the audience. We call them confessions but it has become a piece of Facebook-like language theatre where you will have these acrobatics tumbling and flying, doing jaw-dropping acrobatics and then they stand in front of you with a microphone and they can barely talk because they are completely out of breath. I call it a Facebook form of communication, to say 'this is who I am, these are the things that are important about me, and if you wanted to get to know me this is what I would have to say'.

GM: You were invited to the Royal Variety Performance last year. What was that like?

GS: You can't turn down the Queen and I don't think I really realised how important the event was. They had told us we would be performing with some very important personalities but we get there for rehearsals and all the cameras are there and the curtain opens for rehearsal and Michael Buble comes out and sings. I was completely floored. He is an unbelievable performer. Me and the whole Traces cast just sat there with our jaws on the floor.

GM: It must have been such a proud moment?

GS: It was an incredibly proud moment. I cried several times. We did a hoop-diving act based on the tension of the hoops falling. So you're already nervous enough but if they even brush past one of those hoops, if your hair touches the hoop it will shake, and if it touches it the slightest bit too much it will fall down. They actually did fall once, right in the beginning but it was edited out for TV. I actually like it if things fall once. It's a circus tradition and says 'see, this is really hard'.

  • Traces, New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, February 25 to 27, 7.30pm (Sat matinee 2.30pm), £17 to £26. Call 0844 871 7646 or visit ambassadortickets.com/wimbledon.