When I was a lad, which admittedly was some time ago, circuses were big. They were big shows and they were big news. One of the big three circuses arriving in town was a big deal. Much of the circus would travel by train and a spectacular precursor to the show itself would be the parade of elephants through the town from the station to the circus site and the almighty Big Top.
But things changed, the big three circuses of the 1950’ and 60s Billy Smarts, Chipperfields and Bertram Mills, along with theatre based variety shows, fizzled out. They were deemed old fashioned and could not compete with the new-fangled television in the corner of every living room. And there was also a backlash against the perceived exploitation of exotic animals for public entertainment. Circuses didn’t disappear, but they became smaller, often locally based and the exotic animal acts were no more. Now, it seems, circuses are getting bigger again and Zippo’s is the biggest and longest established currently touring the country.
This was the first time I had seen Zippo’s and it didn’t disappoint. As circuses got smaller so did the acts but Zippo’s has several excellent big acts. It also has some really good animal acts but apart from the horses, the animals are of the small domestic variety rather than large exotic ones. It’ll be difficult to pick out the acts I liked because I liked them all.
The spectacle started in grand style with the March of Light in which we caught a glimpse of what was to come. The show was stylishly presented by dapper veteran ring-master Norman Barrett MBE, aided and abetted by the show’s sole clown, the Italian, Mr Lorenz who proved himself to be a dab hand at lots of other circus skills as well. Traditional slapstick clowns also seem to have disappeared from circuses, a change just a significant as the passing of caged animal acts.
Norman Barrett also had his own act with a cageful of trained budgies that clearly loved doing their routine, especially playing on a little slide of which one of the colourful birds could not get enough. Speedy and Mr N did a really nice little routine during which the cute little terrier brought a smile to everyone’s face. But he and the budgies were not the only domestic animals to amaze us. The Borissov Family from France did three turns, two with magnificent heavy horses and then with a troupe of cats showing that even our feline friends can be taught a few tricks.
But it was the big spectacular acts that really impressed and amazed. Alex Michael did a breath-taking one-man trapeze act and had the audience gasping as he walked upside down inches below the roof of the Big Top. Another act I really liked was Alex the Fireman who came on as a . . . well, a fireman with a flaming helmet and then proceeded to do an amazing turn on a revolving ladder. This was the most original act in the show and one I had never seen before. But beyond any doubt the biggest and best bit was the Duo Galaxy and their amazing Wheel of Death. I have seen this act before but never tire of it. A giant metal frame with circular mesh cages at each end revolves high above the ring while the performer does his tricks running round it, including at one stage, on stilts.
This is probably the best circus I have seen in England since I was a child. Zippo’s is what circuses used to be, what they should be – big, bold and brazen. They should thrill you, amaze you and make you smile. Zippo’s Circus does all those things and more. It is currently celebrating its 30th Anniversary and I say congratulations and more power to their elbow. Loved every minute. ★★★★★ Michael Hasted 13th October 2016
