Circus 1903, which celebrates the Golden Age of Circus, will return to London's Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall over the Christmas and New Year period.

While the once used live animals are absent (thank goodness, we get Queenie and Peanut, two wonderful elephants in puppet form.

What Circus 1903 has in abundance is a flow of the finest acrobotic acts interspersed with delightfully amusing, set-piece audience (ie kiddie) participation routines from David Williamson as Ringmaster Wily Whipsnade.

David binds the whole evening together in the seamless way that only a true professional can manage with consummate ease.

Circus 1903 is returning to the Festival Hall for a second season, which is somewhat appropriate as the south bank of the Thames is held to be the original birthplace of circus some 250 years ago.

When this circus comes to town it brings performers from across the globe.

And so we get the chance to watch in stunned amazement at Senayet, from Senigal (the Elastic Dislocationist); thefoot juggling Remarkable Risleys from Mongolia; the aerial feats of Les Incredibles (from Moscow) and from France the juggling wizardry of The Great Gaston and (as they say) many more and all equally enthralling to behold.

Circus 1903 is an unashamedly thrill a minute evening and one that we adults get as much pleasure from as the youngsters yearning to be on stage with Wily Wipsnade.

Circus 1903 plays until 5 January 2020.

Southbank Centre, the UK's largest arts centre, is on the South Bank of the Thames and dates back to the 1951 Festival of Britain.

It is home to the Festival and Queen Elizabeth Halls, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery as well as the National Poetry Library and the Arts Council Collection.

www.circus1903.com

Useful links

www.circus1903.com