Circus suggestions

[DeanoL]

As promised a short guide to the circus performances going on at the festival. Note there are acts on at places like Sensation Seekers, Little More Sensation, and the Outdoor Circus stage which are mostly street performers - all good stuff but it's shorter performances and you probably just want to stop when you see something interesting passing by.

The Circus Big Top is a bit different as it hosts three different types of shows:

First is individual performers doing 10-20 minutes of very impressive circus work. I'm not going to look at these in detail because there's loads and again, it's a bit random.
Second is circus/dance artistic performances, these tend to be longer (an hour maybe) and include a variety of different bits by a single circus troop, often telling a story. They can be good but some can be more on the end of serious dance than fun circus.
Lastly you have the circus variety shows - in practice these are similar to the folk doing 10-20 minute bits, but it has a single billing on the line up as it's a one troop with their own ringmaster that work together throughout the year - these are generally very accessible and more focused on humour. These are what I'd honestly recommend people go see if they want a good fun hour in the circus. They're sort of the "circus headliners" in a way. (The likes of La Soiree and Cirque Du Soleil have done this slot before)

Most of the acts I mention will be on either Thu/Fri/Sat or Fri/Sat/Sun so I won't list times.

Circus Funtasia / Cirque Du Vulgar - 70 minute variety shows
This is the same circus troop, but Funtasia is the kid-friendly show, Vulgar has nudity and motorbikes. They're very, very good, the shows are funny and have some properly amazing and different performances. Worth noting Vulgar isn't *that* rude. It's cheeky rather than burlesque/sexy.

Hot Brown Honey - 75 minute shows
Not trad circus, they're more a musical comedy/dance group. Looks interesting, should be pretty accessible.

Boom Circus - Balance - 40 minute shows
Last year was an Alice in Wonderland story show told through circus performance, was really good. New show this year but can't find any details on it.

La Familia Rosso - 35 minute shows
A light-hearted Mexican juggling group.

High Society - 30 minute shows
Amazing trapeze act - not much in terms of story or fancy production, just really impressive aerial circus - they're also often on the outdoor trapeze.

The Disappointments - opening act Thursday afternoon.
They're a band, not a circus act, don't know if they're good but just worth pointing if you go there for when Thursday starts and get confused.

The Black Eagles - 25 minute shows, also at the Astrolabe
Dance group that use a lot of fire!

Also worth noting this year the first couple of hours at the Big Top 10am-Midday are talks about circus. Could be interesting or maybe it's just the budget being cut even more...

[Adam75]

Thanks DeanoL

This is really helpful, having been meaning to catch a proper show for years. We can now plan something!

[ICGenie]

Added a couple of those to my Glasto App, thank you!

[germanmon]

Can recommend Boom Circus - we stumbled across their Alice in Wonderland show at random and stayed for the whole thing. Impressive acrobatics but also a fun and slightly twisted telling of the story which meant we were glued to see what was coming next. Have popped their Balance show on my list for this year as one to see. 

[Avalon_Fields]

Thank you @DeanoL I spend more and more time in T&C. My highlight last year was the Fijian dancers. I've just been in touch with the Sensation Seekers who've kindly OK'd me to do some proper photography there. Hopefully to include Oh My God It's The Church