Norwich Castle Lit Up To Launch Circus250

Norwich Castle has been spectacularly lit to launch the year-long celebration of the first ever circus performances.

The Circus250 logo was beamed onto the medieval castle, a prominent feature of the city skyline, to mark the 250th anniversary of showman, equestrian and entrepreneur Philip Astley drawing out a ring on the south bank of the River Thames in London. He filled it with astonishing acts including tumblers, horses, acrobats, jugglers and clowns on January 9, 1768 to stage the first ever modern circus show.

Every circus, anywhere in the world, has its roots in that moment.

The side of Norwich Castle was lit up with a Sir Peter Blake Circus250 logo from 4pm to 10pm as the city joined Blackpool, Derry, Great Yarmouth, Bristol and Newcastle-under-Lyme in celebration of the event.

In London Circus250 was launched at The Creative Industries Federation's anniversary event with a performance by 19 year old Natasha Rushbrooke of Norwich's Lost in Translation Circus.

Norwich is one of the six UK 'Cities of Circus' and will present a series of high profile events as part of the July Lord Mayor's Celebration, including a circus-themed parade with life-sized elephant puppets winding through the streets and Lost in Translation's Big Top circus festival in Chapelfield Gardens.

Circus250 is the organisation that created and is organising the nationwide celebrations of this most pervasive, popular, born-in-Britain art form

Circus250 director, Dea Birkett, said: 'We're so pleased to have Norwich as one of the six Cities of Circus. The city has a long tradition of circus. PT Barnum used to parade his elephants in Norwich and it's currently home to the internationally renowned Lost in Translation Circus as well as The Oak Circus Centre.'

The city is also the birthplace of famous 19th century black circus proprietor Pablo Fanque, mentioned prominently in the song 'For the Benefit of Mr Kite' by The Beatles on their Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Each City of Circus will stage themed events in celebration of the anniversary. In Norwich there will be a series of high profile events as part of the July Lord Mayor's Celebration, including a circus-themed parade with life-sized elephant puppets winding through the streets and Lost in Translation Circus's Big Top international circus festival in Chapelfield Gardens.

Massimiliano Rossetti Co-Director of Lost in Translation Circus and The Oak Circus Centre in Norwich said ' We are all so pleased that Norwich and Great Yarmouth have been chosen as one of the UK Cities of Circus for 2018. We are looking forward to working with all the partners to provide some brilliant events that will really put the city on the international circus map. From our Norwich base LiT have travelled the world to perform and now we're bringing the circus world to the city.'

www.circus250.com

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