When the Circus Comes to Town

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Timeshift, Series 11 Episode 4 of 12

Duration: 59 minutes

Roll up! Roll up! Join Timeshift under the big top for unique access to the University of Sheffield's National Fairground Archive which tells the story of the circus. From Billy Smart to Gerry Cottle and Archaos to Cirque du Soleil, the documentary captures the appeal of this enduring mass entertainment. Find out what a josser is, discover why clowns are one of the few acts to achieve lasting celebrity and marvel at the sheer spectacle of some of the biggest circuses of all time. In an age when almost every form of popular entertainment owes something to the circus, When the Circus Comes to Town is a nostalgic journey into the origins of one of the ultimate expressions of human athleticism and showmanship.

  • Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia poster, dated 1932.

    Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia poster, dated 1932.

  • Sir Robert Fossett's Circus and Zoo poster

    Sir Robert Fossett's Circus and Zoo poster

  • Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia poster

    Bertram Mills' Circus at Olympia poster

  • Bertram Mills' Circus and Menagerie poster

    Bertram Mills' Circus and Menagerie poster

  • Souvenir programme from Belle Vue International Circus

    Souvenir programme from Belle Vue International Circus

Credits

Series Producer
Ben Southwell
Narrator
Julian Rhind-Tutt
Director
Rebecca Whyte
Producer
Rebecca Whyte
Executive Producer
Michael Poole

Broadcasts

See all broadcasts of When the Circus Comes to Town (7)

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