CIRQUE BERSERK
Showman Martin Burton is the founder of both Cirque Berserk, the contemporary “made-for-theatre” show he describes as “edgier than Cirque du Soleil”, and Zippos Circus. While Zippos is now touring with the big top once again with social distancing measures in place, Cirque Berserk – usually staged in venues and theatres across the country prior to its annual stint at the Edinburgh Fringe – remains cancelled. Its future as fans know it “will rest entirely on the future of theatres”, says Burton, who issued refunds to those who had tickets, but hopes it will be back for Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland at Christmas. “I thought it was fairest. When we had to put a stop to the production, we were due to take the show to the Nuffield Southampton Theatres, which have subsequently closed permanently.” he says.
As chairman of the Association of Circus Proprietors (ACP), Burton spent lockdown working to get circuses up and running again. His #SaveTheCircus rally outside Downing Street aimed to bring the plight of circuses to the attention of the Government, calling for inclusion in its support for the arts. Clowns, acrobats and dancers from circuses, including Giffords Circus and Circus of Horrors, were present. “Sadly, circuses seem to have fallen through the cracks of all the rescue package schemes – we pay rent to individual landowners as we tour, and don’t have business rateable properties,” he points out.
“It was a nightmare for performers. It’s seasonal work: our performers come from all over the world, but spend the winter in their home countries. I spend a lot of time travelling around the world to find them, from Argentina to Mongolia. They come back in February penniless, which isn’t usually a problem as they know wages are coming in. However, in this instance, they had three weeks’ work and then it was over. They come here with a Tier 5 visa for temporary creative work, which doesn’t allow them any access to public funds. The coronavirus was a unique situation, and they ended up in our winter quarters with very little money, and no access to the furlough scheme. Neither could they get home, as flights were cancelled, so they were looked after by the West Berks Foodbank. As a business, we had no money either. That happened to circus artistes all over the country here on a visa, including troupes like Big Kid Circus in Morecambe. But, of course, the circus will survive, because that’s what we do. For many children, the circus is their first experience of live entertainment.” zippos.co.uk; cirqueberserk.co.uk