Festivals & Events - General > Reviews > Moscow State Circus 2001 - Don't miss it

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around

Advantages:	Great performances and unusual acts
Disadvantages:	Perhaps only the fact that Saturday performances are limited to 2 in the afternoon

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The Moscow State Circus is touring Britain at the moment. My husband and I went along last night to see it. I had seen the Moscow State Circus on Ice 10 years ago in Paris and was very impressed by the acts, especially the magicians, although I was not in favour of the animal acts. This time I made sure this one was an animal free zone before I bought my ticket.

Tickets are reasonably priced from around £8 to £20. We got grandstand tickets at £16 each but, in actual fact, wherever you sat you would get a decent view because the circus ring is not that big.

All of the acts were amazing and, even if you think you've seen it all before they manage to surprise you with some incredibly dangerous feats.

Out of the 6 or 7 acts on show there were 3 that were outstanding in my opinion. There was a clown who came on, in between acts, to entertain while the props were being arranged for the next performance. He was not your average clown throwing buckets of water over people and making silly faces, which doesn't really do it for me. Even with limited English he was able to get the audience going with his magic tricks, playing classical music on a saw and finally, performing acrobatics with both his teenage and pre-school age (I think) sons who seemed to be made out of rubber. They were just amazing.

The tightrope walker was extremely entertaining as well. He made his way up to the roof of the circus tent on 4 sloping wires and my heart was in my mouth as he got near the top.

The most amazing performance was an Armenian man who ran up and down a freestanding ladder while performing acrobatics. He really looked as if he was enjoying himself despite the strength and concentration he would've needed to carry out the act.

All the acts were great and the show is so well organised and professional that there isn't a moment in the 2 hour performance that you are not being entertained. It's a must for children of all ages!