LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS... welcome to the big top blog of Douglas McPherson, author of CIRCUS MANIA, the book described by Gerry Cottle as "A passionate and up-to-date look at the circus and its people."

Wednesday 20 September 2023

Pablo Fanque, Britain's first Black circus proprietor, gets blue plaque in Leeds


There aren't many blue plaques dedicated to circus performers, but there are now at least three devoted to Britain's - and probably the world's - first Black circus owner, Pablo Fanque.
One is on the wall of the John Lewis store in Norwich, close to where Fanque (real name William Darby) was born in 1810. A second is at Sheffield's Castlegate.
The latest plaque has been unveiled on a Leeds shopping centre close to where Fanque was buried in 1871.
Fanque's wife Susannah was killed in Leeds when an amphitheatre owned by him collapsed in 1848. Although Fanque later remarried, it was his final wish to be buried alongside her.


The plaque was unveiled on 16 September by Chris Barltrop dressed as Philip Astley, assisted by Shawn Ashworth dressed as Fanque and Deborah Sanderson, from the Urban Angels aerial group, dressed as Fanque's wife, Susannah.
Speeches were given by Jane Taylor, Chair of the Leeds Civic Trust, and circus historian Dr Steve Ward, who played a large part in getting Fanque honoured.
The ceremony was witnessed by 100 onlookers plus BBC and ITV local news crews.
Later in the afternoon, Barltrop performed his play Audacious Mr Astley at the nearby City Varieties Theatre.
The real life Astley had introduced circus to Leeds with open-air performances there in 1773.
For more information on the story of Pablo Fanque, click here.






 

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