Zippos Circus, Southsea Common REVIEW: 'A nail-biting encounter with the globe of death'

So a trip to Zippos Circus at Southsea, where their tour kick-starts this week, proves to be a true shopstopping highlight.

The signature Zippos big top set up on Southsea Common, with all its lights and bright colours, is an indication of what’s in store for the lucky audience.

Like everywhere else they are not exempt from the rules of social distancing so a one-way system in and out of the tent, separated seating and hand gel a-plenty is the only reminder you’ll have of the outside world.

The variety and versatility of the troupe is something to be lauded.

With acrobatics, knife-throwing, comedy skits, juggling and daredevil stunts among much more, there’s barely a moment to draw breath.

Funnymen Paulo and Emilion have children and adults alike in the palms of their hands with good-natured slapstick throughout the show, acting as the perfect segue between acts. And Paulo gets his own moment to shine as an acrobat soaring across the ring later on.

Impressive Timbuktu Tumblers somersault and dive through hoops, hop on top of each other as if climbing stairs and finally dodge their way under a fiery limbo stick.

A nail-biting encounter with the globe of death – a metal sphere deftly driven around and around by Bulgarian motorcyclists – acts as the impressive end to the show’s first act.

SEE ALSO: Zippos Circus tour set to kick off in Southsea

But the real jaw-dropper is the conclusion to the evening. Ivan Mladenov and Nikolay Karakolev appear to defy physics with their cool-as-a-cucumber turn running, jumping and flipping on a giant spinning metal structure – in an act you could not even attempt to try at home.

If anything is going to put some wonder back into your life this year, Zippos Circus will certainly do it.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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