Big Top Circus Not to Be Missed

Gifford Circus has been coming to Stonor Park for the last seven years and many had told it us that it was another Henley summer event “not to be missed” and after going for first time last Wednesday we wholeheartedly agree with this statement.

This year’s show entitled Les Enfant du Paradis, is an impressive, breath-taking and hilarious professional show with a magical fairy tale story that takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions.

The high-flying acts all have your heart in your mouth with death-defying moves with no safety nets to be seen which include jumping from one trapeze to another, balancing and falling from poles and walking upside down on aerial straps.  Even Romy Michael, the foot juggling artist, takes her amazing act into the air.   The show-stopper though was the finale when Antony Cesar took the aerial show to another level showing off his incredible strength and balance on the ropes.  He is a fifth generation circus performer and won a golden buzzer in France’s Got Talent.

In the ring, The Ethio-Salem Acrobatic Troupe wowed the audience with their jumping through high balanced hoops and shimmying up and throwing themselves off and down parallel bars.  Roller skating exhilarating duo Dylan and Asia Medini, skating on a tiny ring at high speed, performed wrist whipping, neck and ankle gripper spins. For audience animal lovers, the four cute miniature English ponies led by Amanda Sandow added the animal magic too.

With live music provided by Quel Fromage, the shows stars Michael Fletcher (Ringmaster) and Nell O’Hara (Claire de Lune) also showed off their superb singing voices which were worthy of a performance in a West End Show particularly I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.

Throughout the show, Tweedy the clown had the audience in stitches with his slapstick humour whilst playing instruments, doing ventriloquism or just interrupting the story.  We particularly loved the audience participation with the bells and the water skit (no spoilers here).  Tweedy was joined by new clown (Buka) who tries to steel show and does perhaps for five minutes with his superb silhouette act while riding a bicycle! Tweedy has been part of Gifford Circus since 2004, he will be hanging up his clown hat after this year.  Another good reason not to miss this year’s show.

The show will be at Stonor Park until 24 July and there are still some tickets left for some shows.  So don’t miss out go to https://giffordscircus.com/ to book tickets.