Circus acts warm up for Elgin shows
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ZIPPOS Circus is in town – and the performers are limbering up for their Elgin run.
The cast drew back the tent drapes to offer a glimpse into preparations this morning ahead of opening for its preview show at Lossie Green tonight. The troupe have been touring the UK since April and will keep rolling until the end of October.
The 30-strong troupe of acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, comics, knife-throwers, jugglers, tumblers, dancers and daredevil motorbike riders are pulled together from all over the globe and go to make up a colourful and eccentric melting pot.
Todd Christian, front of house manager, said there were about 10 different languages spoken on site. Todd has never known any other way of life, being born into a circus family, and grew up as a performer. He made his first appearance at the age of four, perfecting the arts of clowning, juggling, fire-eating and fire-throwing.
This year the Brazilian Lucius Team of motorcyclists are the thrill at the top of the bill – circling the "Globe of Death" at high speed. The five meticulously trained riders perfected their skills on BMX bikes before progressing to motorbikes. Confined inside a spherical cage just four metres in diameter, the team present a dizzying and death-defying spectacle.
Todd said: "The riders need to be almost mind-readers as well as amazing motorcyclists. Each one needs to be able to tell what another is going to do before they do it."
Argentinians Gabriel and Germaine have used an aspect of their country's folk history as inspiration for their act – the bolas. The bolas is a type of throwing weapon made of weights on the end of interconnected cords. The couple threw in fire to create their "amazeballs" act.
They will be joined by tumblers from Kenya, Cuban springboard acrobats, Czech knife throwers, a Mongolian contortionist and dancers from around the world.
The circus will run this week in Elgin until Sunday as part of its Big Top 2019 tour – The Magnificent Top Hat. The tour celebrates 21 years since Norman Barrett – holder of the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving ringmaster – first appeared with Zippos. Tickets cost £9 for adults (15 years and over) and £7.50 for children. Visit www.zippos.co.uk for more information.
