Circus life under lockdown
FEW lockdown routines involve swallowing swords or back-garden acrobatics, but for out-of-work circus performers it is a necessary part of their week.
Dozens of trapeze artists, contortionists and acrobats and have been forced to find other forms of temporary employment or survive on Government grants, after circuses closed during the Covid-19 lockdown.
With gyms shut, performers have had to get creative in order to maintain their unique talents.
Anastasia Sawicka, 33, and her 49-year-old sword-swallowing husband, Hannibal Hellmurto, would normally be touring across the UK with the Circus of Horrors at this time of year. Instead, they are having to practise their routines from inside their home in Northampton.
Mrs Sawicka, whose stage routine involves her swinging and spinning high above the ground while hanging from her hair, told the Press Association: “We tend to do every-day tasks in a circus way.
“For example, I have a little bar in the living room, so I will hang myself from that to watch the [Government coronavirus] daily briefings, that sort of thing.”
Her husband, meanwhile, said he practises swallowing swords “once or twice a week” inside their home. Mrs Sawicka added: “I have seen other performers become online fitness instructors, some people I know have gone into lorry driving or delivery drivers. Circus people, in general, are very resourceful.”