Circus stars shine in the city

Dec 16 2005 By Catherine Lillington, Birmingham Mail

A DIZZYING display of highflying trapeze and slapstick comedy has rolled into town with The Mighty Moscow State Circus.

They bring with them 200 years' of circus skills which have been passed down through generations of top Russian performers.

A 35-strong cast of the country's greatest and most flexible acts will thrill crowds of circus-goers, at Starcity every night, from now until January 8.

A circus spokesman said: "The newly-devised show includes The Slavos, a springboard troupe, brimming with talent and raw energy, catapulting across the ring balanced only on a single stilt.

"Members of the troupe are performing unique tricks only seen in this act, including five backward somersaults.

"We also have the Evgeny Eskin's Sky Travellers' act which features flying trapeze suspended in mid-air.

"Acts by Andrey Mikheev and Alina Eskina defy gravity and the laws of physics with aerial gymnastics and breathtaking balancing action."

In addition the circus boasts award-winning clowns Foma and Yeryoma, who have perfected the art of slapstick and cunning capers.

And Russia's strongest man, Bakhrom Akhnazarov, beggars belief by pushing and pulling with Herculean strength as well as having a 2.5 tonne vehicle driven over his body.

A death-defying act is one of the showstoppers, with tightrope walker Goussein Khamdoulaev on the highest indoor high-wire in the world.

The entire show is housed in a specially-designed big top, which is uniquely domed to accommodate the complex rigging for the aerial acts, and it is supported by only four "king" poles.

* For details of performance times and tickets call 08701 555 58.