To run away and join the Circus… The dream of so many, young and old. To get away from the desk job, the drudgery, the dog house…
And if I ever had to consider running away to join them (if I wanted to of course) where would I go, and what would I be? Well I would only want to join Giffords Circus for a start, (the dream of its proprietor, a real life Circus Queen), and I would definitely definitely want to be in The Band. Forget being ignored in a pit somewhere, or stuck in the corner, this band almost verges on being in the ring itself, and they looked like they were having a ball… Being paid to make a racket, brilliant (albeit a lovely one of course)! I wouldn’t want to play anything complicated mind, just a triangle or a recorder perhaps. But I would completely insist on being able to keep one of the amazing costumes they all get to wear night after night.
I am never a fan of the “elephant featuring” type of circus, although there are a few of the more domestic animal type here, and the main stars of the stage are a goose, a couple of dogs, 3 horses, and a pony and some doves. There’s also a bear, but he’s not real. Just don’t tell anyone.
And there are trapeze artists, clowns of course, an Eygptian Priestess, and some acrobats, plus others. We didn’t hear a peep from The Small People for the duration, they sat open mouthed for the entire performance.
The nice thing about it was that despite the appalling weather, and very squelchy working conditions, the cast looked like they were all having the most fantastic fun… And that’s what a traditional circus should be about shouldn’t it? You can’t be a miserable audience member when the atmosphere is that infectious. And I am a little jealous of their career choices, I must admit. How could you ever go back to working in an office or something after a job like that?
* I wasn’t asked asked to write this post, neither did I receive any tickets etc. for mentioning Giffords, I just like to give credit where it’s due as usual. But I would say that if you get the chance to go and see them before this show ends, then go, go go…
Looks fantastic I would love to take Baba to a circus as I think that he would really really love it xx
Thanks Kerry! I think it’s running until the end of August! :)
Oh my goodness that’s amazing and looks like so much fun plus I envy your photos as always you have such talent
Thanks Helen, you are too kind :) x
I do like the sound of this circus. Great photos and the band does look cool!
xx jazzy
Thanks J xx
Wow your writing really does it justice – it was magical and well worth a visit, in fact I am going twice this year! They travel around the Cotswolds area during the summer months. X
I hope the weather improves for them. I had visions of circus shoes being stuck in the mud everywhere! Thanks for taking us, it was fabulous! xxx
Looks like a lovely circus, We had one here a week ago;it wasn’t a good one though so I refused to take Funky Monkey. She has been once to one that relied more on traditions and acts rather than animals.W
Thanks WT. Glad to hear there are other traditional Circuses about :)
Looks like circus is much more the sort of thing I might enjoy than I thought, thanks for sharing
Thanks Fiona… If they come down your way, go and see them! This group definitely revive your interest in circuses, and what they should really be like…
Looks fantastic. There’s a circus in town here right now but sadly it is one of those that relies on sad, tired tigers and lions to endow it with ‘excitement’ so we won’t be going :( Giffords looks like so much fun!
Thanks Mary! Such a shame, poor lions and tigers… To be honest, even without the dogs, doves and ponies, this would still have been brilliant, it’s very retro!
I took the kids to see Giffords circus last year – it was a magical show – we all loved every minute of it.
I think in my running away to the circus dream, I’d want to be an acrobat…and about twenty years younger :)
What a circus should be, don’t you think? Small, traditional, and very entertaining! Yes, I would also love to be 20 years younger, then I might actually be really able to carry one of those costumes off! :D
I fear I might run away with the circus if my boys do not stop fighting today
I too have been acquainted with that feeling from time to time Jen! :D