Running Away to the Circus

Another weekend of rain beckoned, and we were stumped for ideas of something fun to do as a family that could keep us occupied and out of the rain! Fortunately, Taz noticed that the circus was in town, so we snapped up some tickets, grabbed some friends, and ran away to the circus!

James Richards Circus is a family-oriented touring big-top, with an emphasis on intimate audiences and smaller communities. Their Chester base is on Thackeray Park in Vicars Cross, which has a decent amount of parking nearby and is easy to get to from both the centre of Chester and further afield. They had a small refreshments kiosk inside the tent, so we treated ourselves to popcorn and candy floss, and settled down for the show.

I haven't been to the actual circus for more years than I can remember, and we were unsure how Olivia would react, but we needn't have worried. The show began with a balancing act on a free-standing ladder, followed by a Washington Trapeze artist who demonstrated some incredible hand and head balances while swinging above the ring. A duo performed a series of knife-throwing, whip, and fire skills, then a contortionist danced her way through a great little routine. An aerialist sparkled during a silks routine, then the duo returned as a trio (alongside the trapeze performer) to conclude with a routine in which they balanced on various props, and each other, while climbing a ladder.

At one moment during this routine the female performer seemed to overbalance and the performer upon whose head she was about to balance appeared shaken. As the music stopped, and the stage-hands closed in, reminded us that, for all the skill and expertise of the performers, they are real people and may make mistakes. But they regrouped, and completed the trick, with all the added tension of a near miss adding to the thrill.

In between each act, a clown appeared and performed some funny skits involving members of the audience, volunteers, and the schtick associated with circus clowns. He was funny and energetic, but I wonder if the rain had affected the audience as it felt like he was struggling to bring the energy of the crowd up, though there were plenty of laughs and cheers. The ringmaster was competent but appeared a little stiff, as though he had learned a script and was reluctant to deviate from it. Though he definitely looked the part in a bedazzled red suit jacket and top hat.

And we needn't have worried about Olivia's reaction - she was utterly transfixed the entire time; laughing at the clown's antics as he chased his escaped fox around the audience, gazing open-mouthed at the silks performer, and barely tearing her eyes away from the ring for the hour-long performance. She said her favourite was 'the bendy girl', and has decided she wants to be a contortionist when she grows up, now.

Overall a great experience at a very reasonable price. I definitely recommend this boutique little circus to any families who might be nearby as they tour around the country.