Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome
Built in 1903 by the legendary circus showman George Gilbert, Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome is Britain’s only surviving total circus.
Dubbed one of the seven wonders of the British seaside, the Norfolk landmark has played host to an incredible variety of entertainments, from amazing water spectacles and stage shows to cinema.
It closed only briefly during the Second World War, when it was used as a military practice shooting range!
Lloyd George held his political rallies here and Lillie Langtry, Max Miller and Houdini have all performed at the Hippodrome.
The venue was bought by current owner, Peter Jay and his father, in the late 1970s.
Peter restored the water effects for his first produced circus show in 1981, and water has been a major part of the unique circus performances ever since.
The building even has its very own circus museum, which is home to more than 100 years of memorabilia including signs, posters, costumes and a vintage sound, lighting and microphone collection.
Peter Jay’s son and current ringmaster, Jack Jay, presides over the modern vision of circus, which is offering four new thrilling live shows for socially distanced audiences in 2021. The lighting design for the shows is done by Peter’s other son Ben.
Each production features a packed line-up of amazing trapeze aerialists, acrobatics, daring stunts and hilarious comedy as well as a mesmerising Water Spectacular.
The aquatic acrobatic showstopper will be performed on the historic central stage that transforms into a giant swimming pool.
hippodromecircus.co.uk, greatyarmouth.co.uk