» Zippos Circus: Roll up, roll up!
Family entertainment is top of the agenda as Zippos Circus rolls into town
“Encore’ is the spectacular new show from Zippos Circus, which takes place on Hove Lawns from now until 31 August.
Highlights this year include a heart-stopping high-wire act from Columbian father and son duo Chico and Enesto; extraordinary hand-to-hand acrobatics from Chinese artists Ying and Yang; beautiful liberty horses, and, back by popular demand, the hilarious Konyot slapstick clowns. Ideal for families and adults alike, all the fun of the circus is presented by ringmaster Norman Barrett MBE.
Zippos Circus features live animals including horses and budgerigars, which has been controversial at times. However, Zippos works closely with animal welfare experts to ensure the fair treatment of the animals comes first. “We are a traditional family circus,” says ringmaster Norman. “People only have to visit us to see how well looked after our animals are.
“They are not kept in confined spaces. Our horses enjoy a paddock, in which they enjoy many hours at liberty each day, as well as exercise sessions in the circus ring every morning.”
And where do you draw the line of performing animals? Dogs who do tricks? Show-jumping horses? Zippos wants to show off how intelligent and talented animals are, giving people the chance to see horses and humans working together at close quarters.
There is no doubting that Zippos Circus is always very popular in Brighton with both residents and visitors alike.
“Zippos Circus is about performance, not spectacle,” says founder Martin Burton. “Unlike other circuses, which emphasise glitzy sets, costumes, and ‘death-defying’ spectacle, Zippos concentrates on displaying the individual talents and personalities of human and animal performers within a two-hour show, highlighting their relationship to one another. It’s a circus about family; about beauty, magic, and inspiration. It is a circus with a soul.”
Zippos Circus, Hove Lawns (beside the King Alfred Leisure Centre), until 31 August, £6–£22, 0871 210 2100, www.zippos.co.uk (Unreserved seats always available on the day).
Reader Offer
HALF PRICE CIRCUS TICKETS See any performance by Zippos Circus in Brighton (24–31 August) for half price. Just bring Latest 7 issue 489 to the onsite ticket office on Hove Lawns for your discount. (Subject to availability; one half price admission per magazine copy.)
August 18th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
I saw this show last week in Fontwell Park. It absolutely fabulous! The wheel of death is scary, the high wire walk is amazing, and the horses are beautiful! My whole family loved Zippos Circus. Highly recomended.