REVIEW: Christian Sellers
Have you ever seen a man climb through a tennis racket? Or a dwarf take the cap off a beer bottle with his eyelid? Well, you will see all that and more at the Circus of Horrors, currently touring the country in all its blood-soaked glory. Like some deranged bastard child of the Grand Guignol and an Alice Cooper show, the Circus are an eccentric group of musicians, sadists and acrobats that take great delight in showering their audiences with blood, sweat and tears while they perform stomach-churning, death-defying stunts like some gothic version of Jackass.
Spreadheaded by Dr. Haze, a rock 'n' roll star that resembles a cross between a Klingon and Lon Chaney in London After Midnight, the Circus of Horrors is a heavy metal show that hosts an array of weird and wonderful performances, from sword swallowing and skin stretching to contortionists and mutilation. Jumping back and forth from the Rocky Horror Picture Show to the Wizard of Gore, this musical extravaganza may not be to everyone's taste but those that can stomach it will be in for a treat.
While one could accuse the Circus of many things, boring certainly isn't one of them. With a constant rock soundtrack by The Interceptors from Hell, and a host of tunes sung by Haze and his partner in crime, Phoebe Pomme, the show quickly moves on from one skit to another, never allowing the audience to catch their breath. Highlights include Twisted Kiros, who lives up to his name by bending his body into bizarre shapes, all the while boasting an insane grin as he keeps the crowd smiling with his various crude innuendos. Some of the more disturbing moments involved Garry Stretch gagging himself with the loose skin from his throat and the psychotic Hannibal Helmerto who seems content to force pins through almost any part of his anatomy, and then be suspended in the air by them.
And if music or stunts are not enough, the Circus of Horrors is home to selection of damn fine and near naked women who dance, strip and have their throats slit in full view of the audience. With a tongue firmly in cheek, and a sick bag on standby, the Circus is a perfect way for any horror-loving geek or carnival fan to spend an evening!
On tour in 2009
New Brighton, Pacific Road Arts Centre, Mon 16 Feb – 01516 470 752
Bolton, The Albert Halls, Wed 18 Feb – 01204 334 400
Stoke-on-Trent, Regent Theatre, Thurs 19 Feb – 0870 0606 649
Burnley, The Mechanics, Fri 20 Feb – 01282 664 400
Wolverhampton, Civic Theatre, Sat 21 Feb – 0870 3207 000
Sunderland, The Empire Theatre, Sun 22 Feb – 08448 472 499
Buxton, Opera House, Mon 23 Feb – 08451 272 190
Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre, Tue 24 Feb – 0870 6077 533
Northampton, Royal and Derngate, Wed 25 Feb – 01604 624 811
Wrexham, William Aston Hall, Thurs 26 Feb – 0871 230 5596
Brecon, Theatr Brycheiniog, Fri 27 and Sat 28 Feb – 01874 611 622
Swansea, Grand Theatre, Mon 2 March – 01792 475 715
Bournemouth, The Pavillion Theatre, Tue 3 March – 08445 763 000
Brighton, The Brighton Centre, Thurs 5 March – 08448 471 515
Torquay, The Princess Theatre, Fri 6 March – 0870 2414 120
Weymouth, The Pavillion Theatre, Sat 7 March – 01305 783 225
Southsea, The Kings Theatre, Sun 8 March – 02392 828 282
Folkestone, Leas Cliff Hall, Mon 9 March – 0870 4000 890
Horsham, The Capitol Theatre, Tue 10 March – 01403 750 220
Epsom, The Playhouse, Wed 11 March – 01372 742 555
Leicester, De Monfort Hall, Thurs 12 March – 01162 333 111
King's Lynn, The Corn Exchange, Fri 13 March - 01553 764 864
Gt Yarmouth, Hippodrome, Sat 14 March – 01493 844 172
Eastbourne, The Congress Theatre, Tue 17 March – 01323 412 000
Newark, The Palace Theatre, Wed 18 March – 01636 655 755
Chesterfield, The Winding Wheel, Thurs 19 March – 01246 345 322
Huddersfield, The Town Hall, Fri 20 March – 01848 223 000
Barnsley, The Metrodome, Sat 21 March – 01226 738 663
Bridlington, The Spa Theatre, Sun 22 March – 01262 678 258
Liverpool, The Empire, Mon 23 March – 08448 472 525
Llandudno, North Wales Theatre, Tues 24 March – 01492 872 000
Doncaster, The Civic Theatre, Wed 25 March – 01302 342 349
