Philip Astley Centre opens in Newcastle-under-Lyme to celebrate the Father of the Circus.

More than 250 years ago, Philip Astley invented the circus as we know it today. Two and a half centuries later, on 9 March, a Philip Astley Centre opened in his hometown of Newcastle-under-Lyme to celebrate his legacy as the original greatest showman.

Giving new life to a formerly derelict shop, the Staffordshire visitor centre will host exhibitions, talks and circus workshops.

Astley was born in the town in 1742 and fought in the Seven Years War before using his equestrian skill to establish the first circus ring, in London in 1768.

The 42-ft diameter circle in which he performed tricks on horseback became the standard size of a circus ring throughout the world to this day. He also added acrobats, strongmen, clowns and novelty acts to his equestrian displays to create the variety show nature of a traditional circus show.

The Philip Astley Centre is the brainchild of magician Andrew Van Buren, who described it as "a necessary and long awaited addition to the town infrastructure, providing a chance for visitors to learn about and experience the Astley legacy through access to exhibitions, archives, and related physical skills."

For more information, visit www.philipastley.org.uk

 

Cirque du Soleil breaks world records in London

Setting world records has long been a way for circuses to gain publicity, whether it was the Chinese State Circus balancing the most performers on a bike or the Circus of Horrors suspending the most people over the Thames in a 'human mobile'.

Cirque du Soleil took time out from its current run at the Royal Albert Hall to clock up two new entries into Guinness World of Records.

The UK's Lucie Colebeck, above left, set a new record for 36 back handsprings on a trampoline in 30 seconds.

In the show, she normally does five in a row. Doing so many continuously "felt like flying," she said.

Mongolia's Oyun-Erdene Senge beat her previous record of 21 with 24 contortion roll push-ups in 30 seconds.

What's a contortion roll push-up? First you get yourself into the position in the picture, above right, then you do push-ups!

Easy, right? Well, it is for Senge who said, "I've been doing these push-ups since I was six-years-old. It's part of my daily life."

Cirque du Soleil's show Algeria is at the Royal Albert Hall until 3 March.