Circus 1903 at The Lowry

Roll up! Roll up! The golden age of circus is back in town, as Circus 1903 brings its big, bold and colourful production to the Lowry Theatre.

Led by Ringmaster Willy Whipsnade, this extravagant show introduces us to global acts of skill and dexterity.

From the high-flying acrobatic catapulting of Brazil’s The Daring Desafios and the joint-defying Elastic Dislocationist (Ethiopia); to the dextrous hands of Paris’s The Great Gaston and the mid-air somersaulting of Mongolia’s The Remarkable Risleys, this is a show of immense talent that kept us on the edge of our seats as we witnessed the impossible balancing and flying routines.

A circus is not complete without its animals, and Circus 1903 is no exception, as it brings us the magnificent Queenie and cute baby cub Karanga, two elephants impressively brought to life through the magic of puppetry.

But it is David Williamson who shines, as he leads his troupe of stars. A natural showman, and multi-honoured magician, he takes charge of the evening with wit and illusion. I often cringe when child volunteers are invited up to the stage to be part of some cheesy routine, but in Circus 1903 Williamson makes the little people stars in their own right.

His grandfatherly manner encourages them to relax as he guides them through the set pieces; the scene with the racoon is one of the funniest I have seen on stage and had us all literally in tears of laughter – it was hysterical!

A traditional circus brought to life for a contemporary audience, this stunningly astounding production is not to be missed!

Rating 5/5

Garry Thomas-Lowde for Canal St Online.

Lyric Theatre, Lowry: Nov 19th - 24th 2019 tix via here

Published: 23-Nov-2019 (5656)