Roll up to see a great show, says circus performer (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Roll up to see a great show, says circus performer

6:00pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in National News By Emma Dunn

ACROBATS, clowns and trapeze artists are inviting everyone to roll-up to the circus this week.

Billy Smart’s Circus is opening just outside the Oasis Leisure Centre this afternoon, with performances taking place until Sunday.

The big top has taken longer than usual to put up due to the windy conditions, but the team of about 20 performers are now ready to welcome the crowds.

Mathieu the clown, one of the stars of the show, said: “We have a good balance between comedy, acrobatics, flying trapeze and a springboard act.

“We all work hard to make the show fast and enjoyable. It all moves very quickly.”

The performance will include an Australian flying trapeze act, Desiree’s handbalancing act in which she fires a bow and arrow with her feet, acrobats, jugglers, aerialists and a fireman who works his routine on a flaming ladder.

Performances will be at 4.45pm and 7.30pm from today until Friday. On Saturday there will be performances at 2pm, 4.45pm and 7.30pm, and on Sunday performances will be at 12.30pm and 3.30pm.

Mathieu said: “Audiences can expect two hours of real enjoyment. It is not only for children and not only for adults, it is for everyone. We make sure there is always something for everyone so everbody enjoys it.”

The big top, which holds 700 people, has already been to Coventry and Reading as part of Billy Smart’s first UK tour for more than 30 years.

Billy Smart’s New World Circus began in 1946 when the highly successful showman, known to his family and staff as The Guv’nor, bought a big top and added circus performances to his funfair as an extra attraction.

Over the next 25 years, Billy Smart’s Circus became a household name, touring under a massive 5000-seat big top.

It toured Britain during the 1950s and 1960s and stopped touring at the end of 1971.

Tickets for adults range from £12 to £24 and tickets for children range from £10 to £18.

They are available from the ticket office outside the big top or billy-smarts-circus.co.uk.