THE BALLOON MAN

Circus stars perform in Bolton town centre

Mr Fips loses his hat to acrobat Laura Lambrook Pictures by Richard Holton

from:  theboltonnews.co.uk

By Neil Robertson, reporter

24th May,2014

CROWDS rolled up to Victoria Square as circus stars from all over the world came to town.

Mr Fips Wonder Circus, which is currently in the middle of an eight-month tour of the UK, visited Bolton to promote its forthcoming performances in Farnworth and Blackrod.

Making an appearance were Mr Fips the Clown, Charlie the Clown, Mexican daredevil Marco Polo, hula-hoop sensation Jana Roberts, trapeze artist Miss Linda and jugglers and acrobats.

The circus shows will feature performers from Romania, Germany, Hungary and Spain.

The Bolton News: Isabel Nuttall, aged two, rides on the back of Camila the camel watched by Mr Fips

Jan Erik Brenner, who is otherwise known as Mr Fips the Clown, runs the circus along with his wife.

He said: “Bolton people are great to perform to and we hope to keep coming back as long as its people come out and see us.

“It’s our third visit to the area and whenever we’ve come here we’ve been well received by crowds. People in Bolton tend to be very loud and we get the same people coming over and over again.”

Marco Polo, whose tricks include balancing on a chair seven metres above the ground, was in Bolton for the first time.

The Bolton News: The circus performers

He said: “I’m happy to be here, even if it is a lot colder here than in Mexico. British people respond very well to my act — I will shout to them in Spanish and get them to shout back, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Thomas Dixon, from Chorley, who was in Bolton with his granddaughter Florence, aged three, said: “I think it’s good for Bolton to get people from around the world showing what they can do. It’s great entertainment for the children.”

Tracey Bacon, from Great Lever, said: “The circus has changed a bit since I was younger — there used to be more clowns, whereas it’s a bit more technical now. But it’s always great entertainment for the kids and my son would love this.”

Mr Fips Wonder Circus is based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and consists of about 20 members who are aged from 12 to 75 years old.

The circus will perform at Salford Road in Over Hulton, next to the Toby Carvery Watergate Toll pub, from Wednesday until Sunday, June 1, and at Chorley Road in Blackrod, next to The Cherry Tree pub, from Wednesday, June 4, until Sunday, June 8.