Northern Ireland Clown Shortage!

Forget bog rolls and petrol, Northern Ireland is suffering from a shortage of... clowns!

The news comes from David Duffy, co-owner of Duffy's Circus, as Northern Irish circuses return to the road after the lifting of lockdown restrictions, several months of after big tops elsewhere.

"Because the circuses in England and Europe have been operational for the past six months, that huge pool of EU artists are already back at work  and we haven't been able to get visas for non-EU artists," said Duffy, who has resorted to advertising for trainee clowns without experience.

"We're trying to reach out to any folks who feel that they could give it a go," he said.

So what does it take to be a Joey?

You have to be really adaptable and able to think on your feet, said the circus boss.

"When you go into a circus ring and you've got 700 or 800 people looking at you, then no matter what sort of mood you're in you have to light up that circus ring.

"A clown can be the loneliest place, because you're in there on your own and you have to be able to read your audience. In a few short minutes you have to get a rapport going and interact with them and feed off them."

In England, meanwhile, the Circus of Horrors has adapted to the fuel crisis by having Anastasia Sawicka pull her van to a filling station with her hair - a publicity stunt that got the show's current tour into the national press.

The Horrors also called on their KillerKlown to scare panic buyers away from the pumps!

With Halloween on the way, click here to check out the Circus Mania guide to the history of scary clowns!

Gerry Cottle's Circus on Magpie in 1975

A lovely little look behind the scenes of Gerry Cottle's Circus

on children's TV show Magpie in the 1970s.

 

The circus returns!

 

Gandey's Circus in the 1960s

Today, Gandey World Class Productions is one of the biggest producers of big top entertainment in the world. This charming, nostalgic documentary takes us back to its origins as a small family circus in the 1960s. Spot current MD Phillip Gandey when he was in short trousers!

GERRY COTTLE'S CIRCUS 1976

A strongman who lifts an elephant, the world's oldest lion trainer, acrobats, clowns, wire walkers and a sign-writing fakir... it's all in this wonderful documentary, transporting us back to the heyday of Gerry Cottle's Circus in 1976, 'World Within A Ring.'

"I did what every boy wants to do. I ran away and joined the circus."

                - Gerry Cottle (1945 - 2021) RIP

GERRY COTTLE 1945 - 2021

Gerry Cottle, Douglas McPherson, Dr Haze

It was sad to hear of the passing yesterday, January 13, of the great British circus showman Gerry Cottle.

Gerry, who ran away with the circus at the age of 15, and established his eponymous show in the 1970s and 80s, was probably the most widely known name in the UK circus industry for the past 40 years.

A life-long circus enthusiast, Gerry was immensely helpful to me when I was writing my book Circus Mania. He introduced me to interviewees including his former business partner Brian Austen, provided a quote for the cover and graced the book launch with his starry presence.

He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Gerry Cottle at the Circus Mania
book launch
as reported in The Stage.

 For the story of Gerry Cottle's remarkable life in the circus, click here.

 And for the story of Gerry Cottle and Brian Austen click here

...and in the updated edition of Circus Mania
marking 250 years of the circus.

15 Facts about Philip Astley, the Father of the Circus

 

Philip Astley, the father of the circus was born on 8 January, 279 years ago. Here are 15 facts about the man who first brought together equestrian displays, acrobats, strongmen and clowns in the circus ring.


1 Philip Astley was a cabinetmaker’s son from Newcastle-under-Lyme.

An illustration from
Circus Mania

2 He was born on 8 January, 1742.

3 He was a sergeant major in the Fifthteenth Light Dragoons.

4 Astley’s first displays of trick horse-riding were in the open air at Half Penny Hatch just south of Westminster Bridge in London.

5 His wife Patty provided musical accompaniment on a drum and also performed on horseback.

6 Their first performance was on Easter Monday, 4 April, 1768.

7 Astley’s circus performers included a strongman called Signor Colpi and a clown called Mr Merryman.

8 Astley established the still-standard diameter of the circus ring as 42-ft.

Astley's later,
grander amphitheatre

9 Astley never called his entertainment a circus. The word was coined by Charles Dibdin and Charles Hughes who established the rival Royal Circus.

10 Astley was invited to perform before King Louis XV of France in 1772.

11 He built France’s first purpose-built circus building, the Amphitheatre Anglais, in Paris.

12 He established circuses in 20 European cities.

13 Astley’s Amphitheatre is mentioned in books by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.

14 His name is commemorated in the dance tunes Astley’s Ride, Astley’s Flag and Astley’s Hornpipe.

15 Astley died on 27 January 1814 and was buried in Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris.

New Edition
Out now!

For more on the history of the circus and the lives of today’s circus performers click here to buy Circus Mania - The Ultimate Book For Anyone Who Dreamed of Running Away With The Circus by Douglas McPherson

“A brilliant account of a vanishing art form.”
- Mail on Sunday.