Oh dear, what have I done? To prove the circus is suitable for everyone I took three children and an 89-year-old to see Peter Jay’s Christmas show. Now the children want to join the circus!  | | The children loved "everything!" |
I borrowed three children - four-year-old William and eight-year-old twins Saskia and Esther Simm – and took them along with Nell Harris, from Hopton, who's 89. And they all sat totally enthralled. They laughed at the clown; were spellbound as the sinking ring filled with water and gasped at the trapeze artists. The girls especially enjoyed the synchronised swimming and the involvement of youngsters from the Dance Estelle School. So when it was announced that any child could join the school they were lining up to collect leaflets! Stars of the showThe young performers are one of the things which makes the Christmas season so special.  | | Nell, 89, enjoyed her circus trip |
This year they've been joined by members of Norwich's Chermond Circus Academy, which adds much more to their appearances in the ring, particularly the routine which involved a parade of story book and cartoon characters. As always, Peter Jay has taken disco music and lighting and created the perfect marriage with traditional circus skills. The whole two-hour show flows along without pausing for a moment. 'So many highlights'This is a circus which has so many highlights. The stars are the trapeze artists, the Bull Dancers, who have just been given the Circus Friends' Association Award as the best aerial act in Britain. This American troupe created the piece especially for the Hippodrome in the summer. Now they've returned and again have to been seen to believed, such are their swings and catches!  | | The Bull Dancers pick up their award |
They have also developed a separate bungey jump finale which is a big surprise. Clown Chico Rico makes his first appearance at Great Yarmouth - and what a debut! He is constantly inventive, including creating a whole boxing ring with masking tape and members of the audience. His 1960s' inspired plate-spinning is also great fun. Future with the Canaries?Juggler Jamile Martinez shows amazing skills with footballs. With ball control like that someone should be signing him for the Canaries. Bolazs is another outstanding act working within a giant wheel and then returning with a don’t-try-this-at-home act on a BMX bike. Mecho and Sergio show amazing strength and precision in their power-balancing, while newcomers the Duo Biasini combine elegance with incredible movements on the silk ropes. The Estelle Clifton Dancers and the Jan Baines show swimmers, performing their routines in the water-filled ring, add so much to the show, which is hosted by ring mistress Carrie Harvey. It really is a show to remember which has already seen 'house full' notices going up. And the final verdict from Esther, Saskia and William when asked what they liked most: "Everything!" The Christmas Hippodrome Circus runs until 7 January, 2007 with two shows a day. | 
