Circus
What is a circus, well for those that do know – they would most likely explain it as a mass variety of entertainers, who perform the most funny and daredevil acts (stunts) in the enclosed area of a tent. A circus tent is referred to as the big top. When the circus comes to town – it is the children who will be most excited, however in saying that, the adults too.
A circus more often than not will move from town to town putting on shows with travelling performers. To make you laugh we have the clowns and for those wanting to watch breath-taking stunts – then it is the acrobats flying high on the trapeze or somersaulting off a trampoline. All performers are there to thrill. Aside from these artistes - we have lion tamers – bare back horse riders and elephants doing tricks.
The circus big top i.e. tent is an oval or circular arena with tiered seating. The seating can layer quite high so all is on view in the arena. The circus is of roman origin we believe. The reason for this belief on how the circus first came about was with entertaining open air venues held in stadiums – where to the applause of an excited audience would cheer on the horse chariots races etc.
Open air arenas in Rome would put on barbaric acts that many revellers got their kicks from. Roman entertainment years ago unlike the circus today would involve wild fierce animals. The type of circus shows in ancient history was where humans were thrown into the lions. Gladiators would also fight the king of the jungle with there bare hands
British born and bred Philip Astley is looked upon as being the main man behind today’s modern circus. The only time a man is thrown into the lions in circuses today is because they volunteered to do so. These men are called lion tamers. Circus animals include elephants – tigers – dogs – lions – bears – horses even birds.
Years ago freak shows were also very popular. People with disfigurements or abnormalities were paraded in front of an audience in a tent (smaller version of a circus) where at times they were often subjected to harassment and ridiculed because of their unusualness from other people. |
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