 
Giffords Circus – the backdrop of Frost French’s last show and inspiration for John Galliano designs – is a fairytale recreation of a Thirties circus, complete with jugglers, strong men, aerialists and equestrian artists.
It is glamorous and mischievous, intimate and fun; it is a tale of prancing horses, dancing ladies, vaudeville and music hall and from the moment it launched at the Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival in May 2000 Giffords Circus has electrified audiences in the villages and towns of England’s south west. Nell Gifford, circus director and impresario and her husband, Toti, had a unique vision: they wanted to create a touring, nomadic life alive with ideas and art, and live it.
Every last detail from the beautiful old touring wagons and the circus restaurant speckled with fairy lights, down to the stunning lion head costumes, circus dog and dancers jiving to a jazzed up version of My Darling Clementine, has the Giffords Circus stamp.
They return for the 2004 season with a show created around “The Dream of the Pearl” – something mysterious and of the night.
Old favourites – the prancing horses, the dazzling tight rope walker, the aerial chanteuse and the Russian strongman – will return but no season is ever like the last.
Nell will be pearly queen on her new spotted Polish Horse, named Havana; the show girls become divas of the dance hall; a new clown, Tweedy, will revive the forgotten art of eccentric dance; there is an 18th century romantic frog; Miriam, the diminutive Dutch horse trainer and partner will be performing an ancient form of Spanish riding; and Romanian couple, Evelyn and Cristian Marinof, will be appearing for the first time with their award-winning spring board routine.
Giffords Circus is a return to childhood innocence, a genuinely family affair, hugely popular with everyone who sees it and championed by the critics – roll up, roll up everybody, the circus is coming to town!
Back by very popular demand…
