The circus comes to town

The Gandeys crew have built their set-up in less than two days to be ready for the first show, which was due to take place last night.

Rain and flooded fields forced a last-minute switch of venue from Victoria Avenue to Cambridge Park last year. There were no such concerns this time but the journey from Gandeys’ previous show in Llandudno to Guernsey was far from uneventful, as the tent and show manager and his partner had a baby unexpectedly.

The couple stayed in the UK as the rest of the crew travelled to Guernsey for an eight-show run this weekend.

‘We absolutely love coming to the Channel Islands, they are some of our loudest shows of the year,’ said Gandeys tour director Binky Beaumont.

‘Each show has an audience of about 1,000 so over the course of the weekend, we see about 10% of the island which is just fantastic because this is a form of entertainment that isn’t common in the islands.’

On the team’s arrival to Guernsey, 11 articulated lorries – each the length of five cars – had a police escort to Cambridge Park.

The show aims to raise money for Les Bourgs Hospice and collections will be taken at each show.

The thunderdome is back this year – with four motorbike riders in the sphere. The flying trapeze act is popular with the audience, and Bippo the clown is returning after several years off.

The circus tour began in north England and north Wales, after Guernsey the team will travel to Jersey, and then Butlins resorts over the summer.

Joel Hatton is the ring master and hosts the show, and also performs a roller skating act.

‘This is the furthest location we’ve been to this year with a brand new team and new cast,’ he said.

‘We’ve been open since February so we’ve got used to how the whole circus moves and how it packs, because everything we bring has to leave with us.

‘My main job is to control the clown because he likes to mess around and play with me. This is a great community of people. It’s your normal nine-to-five job, but it’s a different way of living. Of course you miss your family, but it’s like a family.’

There are three shows on Saturday and three shows on Sunday.

• Tickets can be purchased at https://www.gandeyscircus.com/guernsey-2024/