Katherine MacAlister checks out Giffords Circus’s ‘best ever’ summer offering – Moon Songs

Tweedy the Clown greeted our arrival at Giffords with his usual tricks and mischief as the crowds milled outside the famous circus tent for Oxfordshire’s summer showing of Moon Songs at Blenheim Palace.

Hauling an iron on a lead, the children were immediately captivated. There was no need to get us in the mood though because Giffords is such an occasion, such a thrill; the expectation and excitement carting you along, so that by the time the horses raced into the ring, headed up by Nell Gifford herself, we were ready.

As act after act erupted on to the circus floor, to gasps from the crowd, I thanked the Lord for acts like Giffords who bring something different, fun and utterly inimitable to the Cotswolds every year.

The stars of the show? Too many to list. Moon Songs is based around a Victorian Luna Park, run by larger-than-life illusionist and man of magic and mystery, Odoroff, and his Little Man assistant, David.

Their spotlight however is constantly being stolen, mainly by Tweedy, who was absolutely hilarious, at the top of his game. Posing in a fortune-telling slot machine, he was constantly escaping to perform for the crowd, with hilarious consequences. The Ethiopian acrobat troupe were second to none – their suppleness and synchronicity has to be seen to be believed, but not nearly as eye-watering as the female contortionist/rope performer whose antics were almost hard to watch.

A human cannon, a dog on a bear on a horse, musicians, jugglers: the circus tent was filled with stunning acts all interspersed with laughter.

The interval is as fun as the show, the audience flooding out for home-made tea and cake, pizzas made on the spot, candy floss, the spell still unbroken, and afterwards when we reluctantly left after endless rounds of applause and the traditional communal dance, the setting couldn’t have been any more special.

So what did I think of this year’s show? My favourite yet. It was less ethereal, less bohemian, but much funnier with a firm thread of hilarity running right through the middle. So if Tweedy stole the show, it was a hard show to steal.

Dates continue this summer.

Details from giffords-circus.com

*Oxford University Parks (26 June-6 July). Parking on-site
* Kingham (9-13 July)
* Barrington (16-27 July)