Under the big top
> The Moscow Circus is coming to a town near you, in its first tour around the country beginning in August
SOME of the most talented traditional circus acts from Russia will be in Malaysia for the first time during an eight-month tour across the nation.
The Moscow Circus Tour of Malaysia 2018/19 will feature specially-produced circus acts that have never been seen before.
According to show producer Kenneth A. Lee, bringing this circus tour here is the realisation of a promise he made to his father, Paul Lee, the owner of The Royal London Circus.
“I promised that I would one day start a circus show in Malaysia that he could be proud of,” said Lee at the press conference in Kuala Lumpur to announce the tour.
He also announced that part of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Tabung Harapan Malaysia.
Lee said the suggestion to donate to the fund was mooted by the show’s executive producers Datuk Seri G. Radakrishnan and Yahna S.G.
“Not only will a part of all proceeds be donated, but we at The Moscow Circus will also match the amount collected, with the hope that the final total will be at least RM1 million,” Lee added.
His co-producer, Victor Pilipovich, himself a former circus performer, said that it took him three years to gather all the talents needed to make the show possible, as they were all in high demand.
He explained that in Russia, circus acts are considered “fine arts”, and their development is funded by the Russian government.
Among some of the circus acts that will be performing here in Malaysia are master juggler Semen Krachinov, Russia’s wellknown clown Armen Asiryants, the flying trapeze act of The Tokmachev Troupe, and the bamboo pinwheel act of The Dubynin Duo.
Other performers include The Romanov Duo skating acrobats, The Moskalov Duo illusionists, The Svezhov Duo high wire act, and The Skokov Troupe Russian swing act.
The Moscow Circus Tour of Malaysia 2018/19 makes its debut from Aug 10 to Sept 2 at Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya. It will then play from Sept 13 to 30 at Queensbay Mall, Penang, and from Oct 5 to 21 at Auto City, Prai.
The tour will continue to Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Batu Pahat, Ipoh, Kuantan, and Klang, with dates yet to be confirmed.
The organisers plan to tour until March 31 next year, with the possibility of travelling to Sabah and Sarawak as well.
Circus-goers will enjoy this two-hour-long world-class show in the 2,700-seater fully airconditioned circus Big Top.
Tickets, with price tiers from RM50 up to RM280, are available via Ticketpro, and at the circus itself. Visit the Moscow Cicus website for more.