Review: CIRCUS 1903, Eventim Apollo

Photo credit: Nick Rutter

The circus has come back to town! For the fourth year running, Circus 1903 has returned to London, bringing with it both new acts, and some familiar *giant* faces! Prepare yourself for an evening of family friendly variety entertainment on a massive scale, presented with humour and a relaxed atmosphere at the Eventim Apollo. 

The production prides itself on honouring the age-old tradition of circus. There's a ringmaster who guides us through a semi narrative of the acts coming to town and setting up the tent, and the acts are all loosely themed on travelling circuses of the early 1900s. It's nice to see what would ordinarily be a collection of separate acts threaded together in this way so that they all appear cohesive. Any apparatus used is all in theme and everything is designed to give that vintage big top aesthetic.  

The show is marketed towards families and very much delivers on that front. It's a great Christmas treat that will appeal to all ages, especially those younger viewers who may be experiencing their first trip to the theatre or to a circus. Where they'll be able to see impressive feats of strength, dance, juggling and even some magic.

You're guided through the evening by "Ringmaster Willy Whipsnade" who demonstrates excellent ability in crowd control. Building atmosphere in such a cavernous room is never easy but it's as if he's talking directly to you. There's even a *hilarious* section where young volunteers are invited to participate in one of the most chaotic magic routines we've ever seen, yet the Ringmaster is able to cope with anything the children threw his way. 

While the acts are incredibly impressive and set a high standard of performance, for those not bringing children along with them, we have to admit that there isn't much you couldn't see elsewhere, which could leave you wanting more. Perhaps this is the case with circus performers, that acts will rotate on different performances. However, we can only review what we saw on opening night. There is one exception to this however...

The special guests of the evening (it's hardly a secret) are the life-sized elephant puppets that are bought out to end the first act. Impressive in scale and adorable in character, we feel they're unfortunately underused! We'd have loved to see more of these playful characters used, potentially within the acts themselves. 

Overall, a fantastic night out, ideal for young families looking for an afternoon or evening out this festive period. 

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Callum Wallace

Circus 1903 plays at the Eventim Apollo until 1 January 2023, with tickets available here.