The greatest
AGE OF CIRCUS. DIANE PARKES REPORTS
BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome welcomes the big top this autumn when the circus comes to town. The international phenomenon Circus 1903 is bringing a host of amazing acts, daredevil feats, high wire stunts and life-size animal puppets as it takes audiences back to the golden age of the travelling show.
The extravaganza, which comes to Birmingham for the first time, is a perfect centrepiece for the Hippodrome’s 120th birthday celebrations because the theatre was launched as a circus venue back in 1899.
And Circus 1903 associate director Richard Peakman, who grew up in Kinver and knows the Hippodrome well, is delighted the production will take centre stage during this anniversary year.
“It would have felt special to bring this show to the Hippodrome last year or next year but actually this year is extra-special because of the Hippodrome’s birthday,” he says.
“It’s like we’re recreating history with the sights, the sounds and the spectacle that launched the Hippodrome all those years ago. Now we’re paying homage to that golden age. As a local lad, to bring a show which has toured the world back to the Hippodrome at this very special time makes me feel very honoured and very lucky.”
Richard became part of the creative team behind Circus 1903 at its very beginning, working with director Neil Dorward who he had first known when they were students together at the Italia Conti Academy in London. The two had built up successful careers in theatre before collaborating on a circus show in China. Then Neil had the idea for Circus 1903 – and he and the team had a clear vision for the show.
“We were really keen to transport audiences back to the golden age of circus when the circus was the biggest attraction of its time,” Richard explains. “There was no TV, no cinema, no theatres, no sports games – circus was a combination of all those elements. We wanted to capture that bygone era.
“So we deliberately shied away from anything which would be too futuristic. We wanted to take it back to basics and for our audience to have an appreciation for these amazing circus acts. There are no gimmicks, no special effects, no filter – what you are seeing is the trapeze artist balancing on that high wire or the juggler spinning those clubs. You are watching a lifetime of dedication packed into an act of a few minutes.
“And we wanted to ensure it was lavish. Money was so tight in the 1900s and yet circus costumes and sets were so extravagant and flamboyant. We really wanted to capture that with exquisite costume design and sumptuous sets.”
Recreating that age of the big top meant looking for a new way of incorporating animal performers.
“We wanted to feature something which was so synonymous with turn-of-the-century circus but obviously these days we wouldn’t use real elephants,” says Richard. “It was the brainchild of our creative producer Simon Painter to incorporate puppetry to bring animals back to the circus.
‘‘Simon had seen War Horse, which is on everyone’s radar for just how breath-taking the puppets are, and he said we should have the best. And