The new Shanghai Express circus tour – bringing some of the world’s most daring acrobats to Scotland, sees this ‘land of the brave’ as a natural audience for the gravity defying feats of their star performers.
All we can say is that there is nothing like first class tumblers to make even the most helplessly inflexible body feel like flying.
The sensational Circus of the Orient, featuring international circus stars from China, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and the United Kingdom – in the new Shanghai Express tour – opens in Oban on Friday 6th July. (Details below.)
Among the stars of the show are the world-renowned Red Dragon Chinese Acrobats, who will mark their first ever appearance in Scotland by performing an incomparable array of gymnastic acts set to send audiences ( as well as themselves) head over heels.
From spectacular somersaults, to dazzling and dizzying acrobatics within the revolutionary Rein Wheel, this remarkable gymnastic troupe will showcase their strength and agility during a wonderful 100 minute circus show.
The acrobats, from Nanle in the Henan province of China, will also perform the lavish 1,000-year-old tradition of Chinese lion dancing and a unique Oriental take on Western circus staples such as plate spinning and hat juggling.
Opening in Oban on 6th July Friday and resident at Mossfield Park for three days, the tour will then move to Kyleakin for one day on Tuesday 10th July 10 and on to Stornoway for three days from Thursday 12th July – with more dates in Scotland to be announced.
‘Shanghai Express’ is produced and directed by Carol and Phillip Gandey, who first brought circus to Scotland 38 years ago and have decades of experience making world class shows such as The Russian International Ballet Company, Cirque Surreal and Spirit of the Horse.
Phillip and Carol have travelled the world to discover the amazing acts in Shanghai Express and are proud to be bringing the thrills and spills of the Big Top to Scotland.
Artistic Director, Phillip Gandey, says: ‘ Shanghai Express is a brilliant production offering a unique mix of oriental and western circus skills to create a thrilling, entertaining and fun-packed show tailored to appeal to the whole family.
‘We are particularly proud to be bringing the Red Dragon Chinese Acrobats to Scotland. A couple of years ago we created a slightly smaller-sized Big Top which allows us to bring a large quality, touring circus to smaller towns which don’t normally see a circus of this quality.’
The breakthrough of such a tour is down to Carol’s and Phillip’s extensive experience with circuses which has seen them create a fully- heated small scale Big Top for just such occasions.
The Circus of the Orient was founded to bring a world class big-top show to the audiences’ doorstep and for the new Shanghai Express tour, family friendly admission prices start at just £6 for children.
Details – not of where to catch them but of where to watch them
- Venue: Mossfield Park,Oban
- Dates: Friday 6th July to Sunday 8th July
- Times: Friday: 4.45pm and 7pm; Saturday: 2.30pm and 6pm; Sunday: 2.30pm
- Bookings: online here; phone Quay Tickets 0871 7055507 (BT 10p / min)
- Admission prices: Ringside £24 / £18; Grandstand £18 / £14; Side Tier £14 / £12; Rear Tier £8 / £6
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