Secret of Houdini's milk churn escape

Danny Adams
recreates Houdini's
milk churn escape
- a picture from
Circus Mania

One of the most memorable acts I witnessed while writing Circus Mania was Danny Adams' recreation of Houdini's escape from a padlocked milk churn.

Backstage at the Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, with water still dripping from his clown nose, the daredevil revealed, "The first time I went in was horrible. You hear the padlocks go on. Your heart is racing... and I couldn't get out at all. It was the scariest thing ever."

The stunt requires the handcuffed performer to hold his breath under water for a minute and a quarter.

But, as this picture reveals, at least he doesn't have to worry about the water being too cold - it's heated up backstage before he goes in.

Danny Adams and Clive Webb - collectively Cirque du Hilarious - are appearing in pantomime in Jack & The Beanstalk at the Newcastle Theatre Royal until January 18.

Click here to read a review of their summer show on Southwold Common.

Backstage at Cirque du Hilarious
- Circus Mania takes you there

And read a full chapter on the comic duo in Circus Mania - The Ultimate Book For Anyone Who Dreamed of Running Away with the Circus.

Click here to buy the book