City summer circus set to return with thrills, spills and fun for all ages

Arts Council funding is helping to bring Chapelfield Summer Circus back to Norwich in July

One of the highlights of last year’s Circus250 celebrations, which saw Norwich designated as one of just six UK ‘Cities of Circus’, was Chapelfield Summer Circus. Over a weekend in July international circus stars from across the world performed in the big top in the city centre park. The 2018 circus festival was an instant hit and proved a popular addition to the city’s summer festivities.

With Interest in circus in Norwich at an all time high following Chris Bullzini’s amazing tightrope walk above the city centre to open the Norfolk & Norwich Festival it has been confirmed that Chapelfield Summer Circus will return to the city in July and become an annual event.  Marybelle, the iconic and distinctive 350 seat red big top tent will be in Chapelfield Gardens between 11 and 14 July for a feast of circus.

Chapelfield Summer Circus is supported by a grant of £49,000 from Arts Council England with further support locally from Norwich City Council and Norwich Town Close Charities.

Chapelfield Summer Circus is the brainchild of Norwich’s resident international circus company Lost in Translation, based at The Oak Circus Centre in the city.

The full programme will be announced soon and tickets will be available via the Circus’ new ticketing partner, Norwich Theatre Royal.

Chapelfield Summer Circus Director Massimiliano Rossetti said ‘We are so pleased that the circus is coming back to Norwich. Chapelfield Gardens is such a brilliant location to have a big top style tent and we know from last year that Marybelle is the perfect fit.’

‘We are just finalising the full programme’ added Massimiliano ‘but I can assure everyone that it will feature some of the world’s best contemporary circus with shows that have never previously been performed in Norfolk. We haven’t forgotten the community element though and there will be free workshops and activities for all and special shows from students from The Oak Circus Centre and Central School of Central School Of Dancing & Performing Arts’.

Chapelfield Summer Circus runs from 11 – 14 July in Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich.

More at: www.circusnorwich.co.uk