Heart-stopping stunts will make your head spin

The mysterious tale of Rasputin is brought to life in the north-east this month as the Moscow State Circus comes to town, writes Colene McKessick

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THERE was a time, around a decade ago, when circus went out of fashion, with the general public turning its back on the dated clown sketches and frowned-upon animal acts.

It was around the same time, however, that a new breed of circus performance began to attract British audiences. Thanks to acts like the Chinese State Circus, and Cirque du Soleil, visitors were treated to performances by talented gymnasts, contortionists and acrobats, creating modern displays the likes of which they had never seen before.

The latest of this new breed of circus to tour to the north-east is the widely acclaimed Moscow State Circus.

Russia has long been known for producing some of the most talented circus performers in the world, with 70 years of state support under the communist regime. It was seen as an egalitarian form of entertainment on a par with ballet and opera. The biggest stars came from Moscow and, even today, anyone wishing to tour with the State Circus must complete a four-year apprenticeship before they have the opportunity to appear in the show.

The current touring cast have a wealth of experience behind them, which is well demonstrated in the new Legenda show. According to circus manager Paul Archer, the show, which tells the story of the mysterious Grigory Rasputin, is non-stop adrenalin-fuelled excitement.

“It’s this troupe’s first time in the UK, but they are by far the most talented performers I’ve ever worked with. They’re incredible,” said Paul.

“They really are amazing, and the acts they perform are going to leave people on the edge of their seats.

“On this tour, we have the only four-man sky wheel in the world. People may have seen a sky wheel before, but never one as large, as fast and featuring four men at any one time. The stunts are at another level; at one point, they are spinning and jumping in just UV light, and it really is one of those look away, heart-stopping moments.

“We’ve also got the double Russian swing, which is one of only two in the world. The performer we have with us is one of the men who started this act 20 years ago, and he has it going so fast and performs these incredible jumps as the swing is moving. It is dangerous and certainly gets people’s hearts racing.”

As well as these daredevil acts, the circus also features girls working on silk ropes 30ft off the ground, human statues who can contort their bodies into unrecognisable shapes, a husband and wife crossbow act and familiar circus acts such as the trapeze, trampoline and, of course, the clowns.

But in today’s multimedia-crazed society, what is it about the circus that still attracts crowds?

“I think people come for a live presentation that takes their breath away,” said Paul.

“People have become used to computer-generated effects and stunt doubles, which is great, but there’s nothing like live circus performers swinging and leaping above your head. People have definitely got past the stereotypical view of circus and realise that it really is an art, which goes back centuries. Circuses showcase raw talent; there’s never a dull moment.”

Paul added that although some things have disappeared from the circus, others have simply evolved to meet modern audience’s tastes.

“Nowadays, the performers must have flair and sophistication. Not everyone has that, but only those who have the right combination make it into the show,” he said.

“Even clowns are more polished now. For example, our clown is much more of a Buster Keaton type and, other than his red nose and shoes, he’s not your stereotypical clown. He’s very talented on the slackwire, and he can play many instruments, so there’s a lot more to him than slapstick. These are artists, not just performers.”

According to Paul, Scottish audiences are some of the most enthusiastic that they encounter, and so as well as the main dates they are playing throughout the north-east, a second, smaller circus will visit smaller towns and the islands, so that no one misses out this summer.

“It’s great because it means people don’t miss out. It’s not their fault we can’t take the whole big show to them, so we try to ensure they still see some circus by taking our smaller show, The Circus Berlin, to them,” he said.

“We’re visiting the Highlands and Islands, including Lewis, Skye and Orkney. We’re really looking forward to it; there’s nothing better than a big top filled with an excited audience.”

So if you are looking for dancing bears and Ronald McDonald look-alike clowns, think again. For some of the world’s most talented performers and breathtaking stunts, make sure you visit the Moscow State Circus.

The Moscow State Circus will tour the country this month and next, taking in Stirling (July 4-6), Inverness (July 9-14), Elgin (July 16-21), Aberdeen (July 23-August 3) and Dundee (August 5-9). For tickets and full details call 0844 856 5555 or visit www.moscowstatecircus.com For details of dates and venues for the Circus Berlin tour, visit www.circus berlin.com