It may be that Giffords Circus entertained nearly 10,000 people last year, but even so, we know lots of folk who didn’t book early enough and so were bitterly disappointed to miss Moon Song, last summer’s heavenly touring show. So take heed: the circus may not erect its tent and unload its wagons until mid May, but you need to book tickets now, especially if you want to see it in London. The Chiswick house dates sell out especially fast and it’s only in town for three weeks.
If you’ve never been to Giffords Circus, we can’t recommend it highly enough. The acts – acrobatics, clowning, juggling, and so on are always great, but it’s the whole experience that makes it so fabulous, rather than any one particular daring feat. The band is always live, veering on the eccentric side, and fantastic. The beautiful costumes, which look like they’ve been found in granny’s attic, are hand-made each year according to the show’s theme, and the performing animals – horses, dogs and geese – are much-loved pets. One of the highlights last year was a trio of three rescue-dogs who entertained the crowd riding ponies while seemingly having a ball themselves. This year, the show has a Western theme and is called ‘A Painted Wagon.’
Giffords also has a fantastic, nomadic restaurant called Circus Sauce, so if you fancy eating there too, do book the last show of the evening, after which a 60-seat communal candle-lit oak table is set up under the awnings of two showman’s wagons and an excellent 3 course supper is served. The whole thing is wonderful.
