American Ring Master, Willy Whipsnade leads an old-world, sawdust big top, filled with variety acts and illusion. And perhaps the biggest illusion here is this show, while appearing old-fashioned, is as slick and creative as any modern-day circus extravaganza. It brings together all the latest technology, tricks of modern storytelling and astonishing physical feats to immerse the audience in a world where anything is possible. So much so, that when a life-sized elephant puppet (made by the creators of the War Horse puppets) walks on stage the whole audience gasps – in this cleverly constructed world of illusion we warm to Queenie like she is the real thing. And if that wasn’t enough – she has a baby called, Peanut – cuteness overload! My heart is bursting.

Early acrobatic acts are surrounded by a chorus of performers who add a sense of musical theatre similar to circus ring scenes from movie, ‘The Greatest Showman’. Just as in the popular movie, themes of magic, dreams and family are brought to the fore in Whipsnade’s skilled interaction with children from the crowd, which is both heart-warming and hilarious. In a magical, almost Santa Claus like way he connects us to our inner-child, making us want to believe his illusions. Whipsnade, a trained magician, takes on the parts of Ring Master, Clown, Illusionist and Narrator all rolled into one. It is a first-rate performance that pushes so many emotional buttons it’s almost as if we’ve been hypnotised.

For the other acts there is less illusion and more heart-stopping physical challenge – Whipsnade affectionately calls it circus art – generations of practised skill, honed into five minutes that live on in the memory of those who witness it. Here the music heightens what is already edge-of-the-seat drama, with world-class acts such as Serpentine Sinuousness (Senayet Asefa Amare) – The Elastic Dislocationist from Ethiopia, who contorts her body into such shapes that at times it looks like she’s grown additional arms and legs. Natalie Leontieva from Russia spins six hula-hoops across her body while balancing on a ball, before being used like a human hoopla. And Ganbayar Munkhbat and Andryei Batbold, from Mongolia, spin each other around on their feet with such speed that one of them appears like a ball.

Seeing is believing. In Circus 1903 so-called ‘old-fashioned’ circus just got a make-over. It’s looking fabulous and will likely bring live circus performance a whole generation of new fans.

Circus 1903 is at The Lowry, Salford Quays from 19 –24 November 2019.

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The show promises to transport audiences back to the turn-of-the-century, shortly after the time of Greatest Showman P.T. Barnum.

Expect all the thrills and dare-devil entertainment from the golden age of circus, with acrobats, contortionists, trapeze and high wire performers, and an injection of 21st century special effects and puppetry to bring life-sized elephants to the stage.

We’ve got a sneak preview of some of the amazing acts in store as part of Circus 1903. These include puppet elephants, Queenie and Peanut, created by puppeteers from War Horse, putting elephants back in the ring as never before.

The event is led by Ringmaster Willy Whipsnade (David Williamson) who will introduce daring duo aerial act ‘The Flying Fredonis’ performed by Russian artists Dasha Shelest and Vadym Pankevych, Cuban hand balancer ‘The Great Rokardy’ (Rokardy Rodriguez); the furious flexible feats of Russian Rolling Ball Hula Hoopist ‘Mademoiselle Natalia’ (Natalia Leontieva), and much-loved mind-bending juggler, ‘The Great Gaston’ (François Borie).

Dizzying Mongolian duo Ganbayar Munkhbat and Andryei Batbold will bring their Icarian Games act and the Russian Cradle will feature breathtaking performances from ‘Les Incredibles’ (Ivan Formichev and Maria Boldyreva). And prepare for gravity-defying tricks from legendary balancing act Rola Bola by ‘The Sensational Sozonov’ (Russian Mikhail Sozonov and Ukrainian Ievgeniia Fetkulova).

Also taking to the stage will be, the unrivalled Ethiopian contortionist, ‘The Elastic Dislocationist’ (Senayet Asefa Amare) and the stomach-churning heights of ‘The Daring Desafios’ (trio of Brazilian teeterboard daredevils João Guilherme de Lima Siqueira, Luan de Souza Vieira and Clóvis Hernan Aranguiz dos Santos).

Circus 1903 is at The Lowry, Salford Quays from 19 –24 November 2019.

Read our review of Circus 1903 at The Lowry.

Read our interview with Diversity’s Ashley Banjo about fusing circus and dance.

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