Cirque on a summer evening

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Cirque on a summer evening

The most English of all performance art forms � circus � comes to a castle steeped in two thousand years of turbulent English history - SUDELEY CASTLE in GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Described as "Cirque on a Summer Evening�, Europe's biggest and best new circus CIRQUE SURREAL will present seven performances of its internationally acclaimed production �VOYAGERS.

The leading circus stars from 10 countries perform death-defying aerial acts, astounding acrobatics, gravity defying balancing, incredible juggling and hilarious comedy in a spectacular show for all ages a world apart from any circus you may have seen. A dynamic fusion of traditional circus skills, modern dance, drama and humour CIRQUE SURREAL � VOYAGERS is staged in the Theatre Big Top at Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire from Thursday June 28 � Sunday July 1.

Guaranteed to have to have the audience on the edge of their seats are the Bulgarian masters of the gigantic revolving Wheel of Death, Nikolay Kakralolev & Konstadin Popov. Other outstanding highlights include the remarkable Lui Jai Jai and Miao Chang Wei performing the legendary �Oriental Swan� � breathtaking fusion of ballet, acrobatics and physical strength; the award winning Russian aerialist Victoria Antipova; the teenage juggling sensation � Jamile; and the hilariously brilliant clowning of the unpredictable Mimi.

An exciting and entirely new approach to circus performance culture CIRQUE SURREAL weave a strong dramatic theme through the production following the adventures of five VOYAGERS. Drawn from four continents � Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas �they seek to gain recognition in a developing global community. The fifth voyager � representing the millions of stateless people � simply wants to belong. A fantastic journey of intense excitement, poignant drama, uproarious comedy and thrilling exploit set to an original music score.

In a groundbreaking collaboration with the Arts Council of England and Mahogany � the Harlsden-based carnival costume designers - the production introduces to the world of circus Caribbean-inspired kinetic sculptures utilising the human body in the art form. Designed by Clary Salandy and engineered by Michael Ramdeen, the four-meter high creations give the four Voyagers a sense of place. Mahogany supplies carnival costumes world wide as is best known for its major artistic contribution to the Notting Hill Carnival.

State of the art lighting and sound; designer-inspired costumes; choreography; original music; comedy and a strong dramatic theme are carefully interwoven to create a show that has enchanted audiences and critics alike.

To make the visit to the circus complete, CIRQUE SURREAL audiences will be able to enjoy a range of facilities including individual seating in the Theatre Big Top and the fully carpeted foyer area with its retail outlets, licensed bars, tasty snacks, and the Sabai Chill Out Zone - the perfect place to relax with Thailand�s favourite wine spritzer.

This is the Big Top chosen by SKY ONE for their recent sensational reality hit TV series Cirque De Celebrit� in which artistes from CIRQUE SURREAL trained a group of star celebrities.

CIRQUE SURREAL was created in 1995 by the world�s leading circus creative partnership PHILLIP and CAROL GANDEY, to break down the accepted and outdated rules and traditions to produce a new style of physical performance arts entertainment. Although the world�s first circus was produced in Britain over a century ago, Phillip felt it was now failing to meet audience expectations. If circus was to thrive � never mind survive � it had to move out of the old-style sawdust ring with its poor technical facilities and rise to the challenge of creating a new and exciting family entertainment in a modern environment.

CIRQUE SURREAL - VOYAGERS is not just the best new circus in Europe - it is circus for the 21st century - a fantastic celebration of the myriad of nationalities and cultures, and the individual artistes, which have always been the strength of circus as a performing art.

Circus is dead � vive le cirque!

CIRQUE SURREAL artistes include;
From Bulgaria - Silfodilini � (Nikolay Kakralolev & Konstadin Popov) on their award winning � Wheel of Death. The masters of Big Top thrills have had audiences throughout Europe on the edge of their seats with their gold-medal daredevil performance high in the Big Top.

From Ukraine - Desire of Flight. The acclaimed exponents of one of the most physically demanding of all circus disciplines - The Aerial Straps. The remarkable strength, skill and artistic technique demanded in equal proportions are matched only by the courage required to perform such a pulse-stopping routine

From China - Lui Jai Jai and Miao Chang Wei present one of the orient's most remarkable treasures of physical theatre � The Swan. A breathtaking fusion of ballet, physical strength, balance and pure artistry.

From Russia - Victoria Antipova � has won many international awards for her aerial work and was selected to appear in the prestigious � Stars of Russian Circus� national showcase in Moscow. Her amazing Corde De Parelle skills have been seen throughout Europe, Japan and the Middle East.

From Ireland - JAMILE GOMARI � one of the world�s most exciting young jugglers. Direct from a sell-out tour of Scandinavia and Germany, this amazing artiste has already established himself as a firm favourite with audiences throughout the Middle East.

From the State of Confusion � Mimi. Recognised as an emerging comic genius, he is a graduate of the highly respected Ecole De Cirque in Chalons, central France. His hilarious antics have earned him the reputation of being one of the funniest men around and have brought him a huge following in European cabaret and with leading continental circuses including Flic Flac and Gruss.
From Russia - Anna Rastsova � combines an outstanding talent to blend death-defying skills with beauty and grace on the Swinging Trapeze. She has toured the Middle East, Italy, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Malta and the USA.

From Morocco � The Aladdin Trio � lead by Said Debach, the high-speed Moroccan tumblers have appeared in Disney�s Cirque Du Monde, the James Bond movie Octopussy and toured the UAE.

The Voyagers �

From Africa - Vusu Muzi Mtola � the sensational Zulu dancer. An established star of �African Experience� Vusu has toured the U.K. and Europe. He also choreographed and appeared in an African dance spectacular in Doha, Qatar and was an original cast member of the first production of Voyagers at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

From China - Wang Huang � the Martial Arts star - and the only female Voyager. Trained at the renowned Jilin Sports School in North East China, she majored in Martial arts. Her brilliance in this demanding discipline earned her a role in top-rated TV serial drama � The Legend of General Yang�

From Argentina � Alejandro - THE GAUCHO � with the famed Bolas Dance of Courage. The bolas is a rope weighted at either end by metal spheres each weighing up to a kilo. The gauchos � South American cowboys � use the bolas as a missile thrown with deadly accuracy to wrap round the legs of fleeing cattle and bring them to the ground. In The Dance of Courage, two boleadoras one in each hand � are rotated at high speed, hitting the ground in a musical rhythm accompanied by fast flamenco-style foot movements

From the Caucasian homelands of the Cossacks � Anatoly. An honours graduate of Moscow University of Culture in Dance and Choreography Anatoly has worked extensively in Europe and Russia.


Listings

CIRQUE SURREAL � VOYAGERS
Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, (GL54 5JD)

Thursday 28th June to Sunday 1st July
Performances
Thurs 8pm; Fri 5pm & 8pm; Sat 2.30pm & 8pm; Sun 2.30pm & 6pm

Admission
Ringside �28 (concessions: �20); Grandstand; �22 (�16); Side Circle �18 (�14);
Rear Circle �12 (�8)
Advance Booking � Dial-A-Seat 0871 224 0033 (booking fee applies)
Book online www.cirquesurreal.co.uk


Posted : 17/05/2007 01:04:05

PLEASE NOTE: This story has been archived and the information contained within it may no longer be correct.


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