Welcome To Carnaval - Zippos Circus!

Last year Florence went to the circus with my Mum and I for the very first time. I don’t think she could quite believe the spectacle and was mightily impressed. She’s seen lots of live theatre shows but the circus is something entirely different of course and her eyes were out on stalks. She particularly liked the clowns and found them very funny; we had a lovely time!

For Christmas, after seeing another awesome circus display (by Zippo’s) when we visited Winter Wonderland, we gave Florence the HappyLand circus set so that she could play her own circus games; she’s rather keen on the HappyLand clown that came with that too!

Florence playing ‘Circus’ with Jimmy trying to get in on the act!

Being quite ‘into’ the circus and clowns, now couldn’t have been a better time to be invited to the launch of Zippo’s latest spectacular, ‘Carnaval’! I think the first time we visited the circus it planted the seed for Florence, seeing Zippos at Christmas made it grow and now that she’s been again I think we can well and truly call her a fan!

We saw Zippos for the very start of their season in Blackheath yesterday afternoon. Despite the bitterly cold weather outside, the sweet smells of the circus, the candyfloss and popcorn mixed with hot dogs, horses and fresh air, gave a us a real summer feeling! It was a shock on the senses leaving the big top and fighting cold wind on the way to the car afterwards!

So, the mood was set with the scents in the air and the excited noises from the children! We were sat in the front circle, there had been no ring side seats left – it was jam packed so obviously a popular choice, and the big top was alive with whirling lights held by the children! I was a little worried when two very tall people sat in front of us, that Florence wouldn’t be able to see, but realised that the seats are staggered in such a way that even the littlest of littles will still have a fairly decent view no matter where sat! (Obviously the performance is directed mainly at the front however I noticed, throughout the show, that they made every effort to turn and include all sides. I don’t think, even when the performance is directed to the front. that it would hinder enjoyment for the side viewers, it’s a pretty big, big top…

We built up lots of excitement before the show and Florence perused the programme intently!

As soon as the show started we were all eyes on deck! The ring masters parting comment at the end of the show was that no one is too old or too young for the circus and I have to agree!

The acts were absolutely fabulous! Top quality and with SO much skill! We ‘Oooed’ and ‘Aaahed’, gasped and applauded! Some moments were very tense indeed and some of the death defying acts are outrageous! Jonny and I looked at each other on more than one occasion to exclaim, how??!! I think my personal favourite has to be Hercules the Strong Man from the Ukraine! I mean I enjoyed all of them and Chenoa on her trapeze, Nicky de Neumann with her horses and all the rest were top class but he had a people carrier drive over his body!! Then… Leapt up for his applause!

Some of the fabulous acts!

Hercules the Strong Man!

Then of course there is the pinnacle of the show, the Lucius Team and their ‘Globe of Death’! We saw these guys at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and were blown away! It didn’t get any less impressive for a second viewing! A girl stands in the middle as the motor bikes whizz round each other inside the globe… It really does have to be seen to be believed and my photograph does not do it justice!

The Lucius Team!

Florence’s favourite acts were. of course, the clowns and we were lucky enough to meet one of them during the interval. It’s amazing how everyone in the circus just pitches in. One minute they are perforing top class acts in the ring and the next they’re handing you leaflets and serving you pop corn with no starry attitudes whatsoever!

The clowns provide their entertaining interludes in the ring!

And we got to meet the boy clown during the interval!

Coming away from Zippos I feel like despite the fact they are a huge circus, they are a family business and this is good old-fashioned family fun; completely harmless yet brilliantly entertaining. I would find it hard to see how anyone could take offence to anything about this show. I know some people have a problem with animals but the horses all looked rather happy to me. Their stable was available for all to see on the way into the big top, it’s roomy, smells clean and appears well looked after. It’s clear that Nikki adores them. Florence and I had to make a dash to the toilets mid show and as she was putting one of them back in the stables, she stroked him lovingly and checked his feet… There was no reason why she would think anyone was around to see her…

I also over heard some of the crew on walkie talkies being very concerned about getting a jumper for one of the girls showing people to their seats… It seems that they care about each other, they care about the show. They also care about the community and do lots of good for charity which can be read abou ton their website. Because of all this it’s a superb afternoon out and what’s more is that at the moment the ticket prices have been slashed! Adult tickets from just £7! Now that’s a bargain!!