Roll up, Roll up ‘An Enchanting Journey to Fulfilment’
Having only experienced a circus by reading novels like ‘The Night Circus’, watching ‘Cirque De Freak’ or hearing my parents about their trips in the 90’s, I’d always wanted to go. On Easter, 5th April, my family and I booked tickets because a circus had appeared: The Moscow State Circus. It’s their first ever European tour, based on a Russian Folklore that the seven coloured petals represent seven wishes.
I have always been intrigued by the magical acts, as if you’ve escaped into an enchanting world away from reality. It is not as common a fairy tale as the seven dwarfs, but the ‘Flower with Seven Colours’ portrays good morals behind it. The red and yellow tent covers almost half of Shepard’s Bush Park, attracting a sea of restless circus-goers eager to be mystified. The evening was warmer than usual, the lights glow like fireflies, the queue grows bigger, and the smell of salted popcorn and caramel wafts in the evening breeze. A single curtain divides you from the venue as you step on the wooden platform and into an array of coats. A crowd files impatiently as soon as the dark tall doors gracefully opened.
Inside, it was unusual yet so familiar. You immediately feel more awake when you are inside the circus. We got escorted to our front row seats on the ring side, where the smell of smoke was more apparent, and the golden rimmed stand separated us from the stage. Inside was smaller than I imagined, making the experience more intimate. The stage was blurry, only dark violet lighting illuminated the endless lines of the audience oozing into the tent and shuffling to their seats. The small space, allowed even the lower priced tickets to still have an ideal viewpoint.
The beginning started with all the foreign performers, entrancing the audience in traditional Russian music. Wizard Wako and his side kick Natalia Mezentceva were the tellers of the Folklore, introducing each act: featuring Tatiana, a beautiful daredevil diva on aerial rope’s, Stynika on the horizontal bouncing Russian bar, Eliza, a ballerina on the high wire, Olga on a low wire, the Trio Atlas on floating globes, a roller skating revolution and a 13 people spring board troupe.
You were left in awe, as Tatiana artfully controlled the elaborately knotted rope, executing impressive feats of agility, her beatific smile unchanging whilst she gracefully played the accordion. Routines were in perfect chorused unison. The Trio Atlas, pausing at the most ideal moments of time emphasised their strength. Humour would be injected in the intense atmosphere the performers left. In between acts, Mezentceva would fulfil her wishes and Wizard Wako would create life-size bubbles, bringing an audience member to help him clumsily perform stunts on a tightrope and trampoline. Halfway through the show, after a 10 minute break, the roller-skating act taught us the 5th wish, you can do anything if you just believe. The low wire walker Olga elegantly showcased her balancing skills, as well as Eliza, the ballerina on the high wire, walked on the roof at the big top, causing strained necks from watching upwards. The most enthusiastic of all acts were the 13 people springboard troupe, intrepidly catapulting and catching each other from a wooden swing in white clown-like outfits on stilts, causing gasps, uproars of applause and laughter. They constructed a spontaneous uplifting energy and disbelief from the youngest to the oldest of audiences. The last wish Mezentceva made was selfless, to make a boy on crutches walk again. As he flew above, all the acts bowed and waved at the rumble of satisfaction and delight.
Even though the circus had no animals or clowns (I’m not complaining there) it will be disappointing when the ropes are cut and the circus tent seamlessly falls on the crisp autumn grass to continue their journey around the world. After the duration of 2 houres, the ambiance of the aftermath of the show, when the lights lifted silenced the tent. Elizabethans believed that ‘language is decorated silence’, and that was evident in the Russian circus. The only circus I’d come across in London was in Winter Wonderland, only reinforcing my wonder and curiosity of the show within.
My experience emulated my expectations; I would without a doubt visit again.
Risk-taking, radiant, remarkable and Russian.
By: Gizela Dervishi
William Morris Sixth Form
