Growing up in Edinburgh meant that Miranda Menzies was always surrounded by performers thanks to events like the Fringe Festival at her doorstep. From an early age she always wanted to get into showbiz and when she completed high school she went on to study acting at higher education.
Nowadays Miranda is still in showbusiness, performing on the stage, but not for acting. Instead she leaves the audience, awestruck and with their hearts in their mouths as she is suspended from a dizzying height performing acrobatics and held there by a specialist knot tied in her hair.
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Miranda says her journey to becoming a circus performer was by 'accident'. After studying at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, the 32-year-old featured in some stage plays but found herself being drawn to being an aerial performer in a production. One thing lead to another she eventually trained on the art of hair hanging.
"I've come here by accident but I think this is definitely where I'm going to stay." She told the MEN. "I feel like it joins together all the parts of my puzzle that I didn't know there. It's funny how one thing leads to another."
What is hair hanging?
Hair hanging is a circus act where performers are suspended by their hair. While suspended they perform a number of acrobatic poses with some using props. It is believed the act originated in China and the method is fiercely protected by the initiated.
Despite the daring nature of her job, you'd be surprised to know that Miranda is scared of heights. "I'm not like scared scared, but I wouldn't volunteer to go and change a light bulb.
"It's different though. You're not in control, but you practice so much that you really know how your body feels, where your body is in space so I could probably do all the routines without having to look. I know where the hoop is or i know where the edge of the stage is during hair hanging.
"You practice so much that you know that you're safe."
Miranda performs at La Clique, which is a showcase of the world's best circus and cabaret acts. The show features a host of acts such as stunt performers, sword swallowers and comedians.
La Clique is currently in the middle of it's six week residency inside a 1920s Spiegeltent which is on the roof of the Depot Mayfield in Manchester. Speaking about her act, she said: "It feels amazing to be up there. The adrenaline is so intense and although it's like four and half minutes long, it's like the most awake or alive I feel in a day.
"You'll be shaky afterwards but everything is so focus and intense in that moment, you don't get scared. There's so much to think about.
"I can see people smiling or laughing or scared and that makes you feel very connected."
