Circus Starr - the circus that helps kids

I love this picture of Circus Starr at the end of its spring tour.

Started by Phillip Gandey - whose company Gandey World Class Productions is the UK's largest producer of international circus work, with shows including Gandey's Circus, Spirit of the Horse and the Chinese State Circus - Circus Starr has a unique business model. All its tickets are sold by telesales to businesses in the towns where the show appears. The tickets are then given away to ill and disadvantaged children and their families, giving them a top quality big top night out completely free of charge.  

Circus Starr star Chico Rico

For the story of Circus Starr click here.

 

For a behind-the-scenes journey through the contemporary circus scene, with reviews of circuses of all types, both traditional and modern, plus interviews with big top owners and performers from clowns and sword-swallowers to trapeze artists and tiger trainers, read Circus Mania - The Ultimate Book for Anyone Who Dreamed of Running Away with the Circus!

Circus reopening in Ukraine with tigers, parrots and horses

 

The latest news from Ukraine is that the National Circus building in Kyiv will be reopening from 2 July with a production called Save the Animals of the Circus.

The show is expected to feature mainly animal acts including tigers, parrots, dogs and horses that have been sheltering in the circus since the war began. The performances will help keep the animals in condition and raise funds to maintain their upkeep.

The trainers will also be talking about their work and answering questions from the audience.

Even in war, it seems, the circus always goes on.

The National Circus of Ukraine, Kyiv

For the story of the Ukrainian circus stars currently touring the UK, click here.

Face of the Ukrainian Circus

This iconic portrait is of Tetiana Lotiuk, who undertook a harrowing escape from war-torn Ukraine to appear with a cast of 15 other Ukrainian performers in Circus Cortex, a big top show that has just begun it's UK tour in Sheffield. For tour dates, click here. 

For the latest news on the circus in Ukraine, click here.

You can read my interview with Corcus Cortex director Irina Archer, and the story of how the circus industry has rallied around its Ukrainian colleagues during the war, in this article in today's edition of The Stage. Click here.

 

Circus Cortex tours with cast of Ukrainian refugees

Talk about a human pyramid! Fresh from a Christmas season in Cairo, Egypt, Circus Cortex has just begun its British big top tour in Sheffield - a month later than planned because its cast of almost entirely Ukrainian artistes went home to visit their families and renew their visas... and found themselves in a war zone when Russia invaded.

Some are still there, conscripted into the military, others have undertook harrowing journeys out of Ukraine and the company has recruited Ukrainian replacements who were in other countries when war broke out.

Putting on a show, while worrying about loved ones hiding in bunkers miles away, the circus stars will be touring until their final show at Clacton on 30 August. Proof that the show always does go on.

For the full list of dates, click here.

You can read my interview with Corcus Cortex director Irina Archer, and the story of how the circus industry has rallied around its Ukrainian colleagues during the war, in this article in today's edition of The Stage. Click here.

For the latest news on the circus reopening its doors in Ukraine, click here.

For a behind-the-scenes journey through the contemporary circus scene, with reviews of circuses of all types, both traditional and modern, plus interviews with big top owners and performers from clowns and sword-swallowers to trapeze artists and tiger trainers, read Circus Mania - The Ultimate Book for Anyone Who Dreamed of Running Away with the Circus!

 

The Wonder Circus Comes To Town

 

World Circus Day, 16 April, 2022

 

70th anniversary of The Greatest Show on Earth

 

Circus lions loose in Grimsby! And hero clown takes chase!

Thirty years ago, Chipperfield Brothers Circus fans - and some local residents of Grimsby - saw a livelier show than usual.

Immediately after the opening big cat act, the audience stampeded when someone shouted, "The lions are loose!"

In the streets outside, a policeman, Sergeant Bellamy, was stunned to see a lion run past his police car... followed by a clown in full costume and make-up, complete with enormous shoes.

The funnyman was Tommy Cook - Clown Brum, who performed with Shaun Cook as Brum and Rum.

Armed with a chair, the clown cornered the lion in a blind alley, then broke the bad news: another three lions were still at large.

Local man Michael Strandt needed 24 stitches after a lion pounced on him and sank its teeth into his neck. He was only saved when another policeman rammed the beast with his car.

Another lion became trapped in the local bus station where a member of staff said, "It kept roaring and roaring."

Within an hour, the circus staff had successfully recaptured their animals.

It is thought the lions, which belonged to Mary Chipperfield, were let loose by animal rights protesters and the circus staff were praised for their bravery and efficiency in recovering them.

In true circus tradition, the following night's show went on as usual.

How do you train a tiger? Read my interview with Helyne Edmonds of the Great British Circus in Circus Mania - the Ultimate Book for Anyone Who Dreamed of Running Away with the Circus.

And click here to read an interview with big cat trainer Martin Lacey Senior.

 

Circus Mondao in Kings Lynn

 

Gandeys Circus ROAR into 2022

 

A great image from Gandeys Circus for its new show, Roar!, which opens at Half Term at Trentham, Staffordshire on 18 February.

Oh, and don't be misled by the name. Roar features no animals. It's the crowd that will be roaring!

Find full tour dates and booking info HERE.