THE world-famous Moscow State Circus is back in the UK touring a new show.Coming to Dartford and Croydon, the circus features a 35-strong troupe whose award-winning acts feature new and traditional circus skills.
The newly-devised production includes the Slavos troup, with tricks such as five backward somersaults from a springboard, and flying ballet by Margerita Egorova.
Providing traditional slapstick and capers are clowns Igor Vorob'ev and Andrey Mashonkin.
The Russian circus tradition is more than 200 years old. The state circus flourished during the communist regime.
It began when Catherine the Great invited British trick-rider and impresario Charles Hughes to set up a riding school in St Petersburg. The craze spread throughout Russia, with families setting up circus schools to pass on their skills from one generation to the next.
More recently the collapse of the Soviet Union means the government support structure is less secure and the future of the Moscow State Circus is uncertain.
Moscow State Circus
January 17 - 19, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, 020 8688 9291.
January 20 - 22, The Orchard, Home Gardens, Dartford, 01322 220000.
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