Audacious Mr Astley

Audacious Mr Astley

An English equestrian invented circuses 250 years ago. Who better to tell how the art-form began than the ‘father of the modern circus’, Philip Astley himself?

Swapping his red tail-coat and top hat for the uniform and sabre of a 1760s hussar, modern-day ringmaster and actor Chris Barltrop brings Astley to vivid, cantankerous larger-than-life to tell his own tale, accompanied by contemporary music.

Painstakingly researched and written, Barltrop tells Astley’s story ‘at first hand’. A unique account by a circus ‘insider’ who draws on his deep knowledge of circuses and their owners to create a fascinating and highly entertaining presentation.

Five stars, Edinburgh Fringe (British Theatre Guide)

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