Waldo's Circus of Magic & Terror
A NEW MUSICALThere is power and beauty in this show
Come one, come all to spectacular new musical Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror. Under the twinkling stars of the big top, sensational circus, powerful magic and electrifying music combine to tell a poignant story of courage, resistance and love.
It’s 1933 Brandenburg and the Nazis are burning books and suspending civil rights. Many are desperate to escape, but for Waldo and his travelling circus of outcasts, acrobats and aerialists, the show must go on...
As Hitler’s dictatorship strengthens and oppression grows, the daring humanity and courage of this circus troupe stay hidden beneath the painted-on glamour of Waldo’s big top. Love, loyalty and risk-taking balance on the tightwire as the world outside becomes darker and more dangerous.
Waldo’s Circus is informed by historical research and the experiences of real performers. Written by Hattie Naylor (Ivan and the Dogs, The Night Watch) and Jamie Beddard (Messiah, The Elephant Man) with an original score by Charles Hazlewood (Paraorchestra), it is a large-scale collaboration between D/deaf, disabled, and non-disabled artists and creators and tours nationally this year.
All performances are Chilled*, Signed, Captioned and Audio Described. Find out more about Access at Bristol Old Vic
A high-wire return to the darkest of times
*What is a Chilled performance?
A Chilled performance takes a more casual approach to noise and movement in the auditorium, but the performance itself is unchanged.
- Low lights are left on during the show
- You will be warned if there are loud noises or flashing lights
- You will be able to look at an online and hard copy ‘visual story’ explaining the story and characters
- You are free to get up, move about or go out and come back into the theatre during the show if you need to – if you can, please book an aisle seat if you need easy access
Presented by Extraordinary Bodies | Co-produced with Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Royal Plymouth
Extraordinary Bodies is a collaboration between Diverse City and Cirque Bijou | Image: Paul Blakemore and Studio Stiles
A high-wire act itself, balancing sobering information with escapist entertainment
Impresses and challenges in equal measure
Bristol 24/7
Unlike anything seen on stage before
Bristol Post
This is a show out of the ordinary
StageTalk
A hugely ambitious work
The Stage
CLAIM A FREE £25 THEATRE VOUCHER | LOVE YOUR LOCAL THEATRE
We are excited to be taking part in the Love Your Local Theatre campaign, powered by the National Lottery and Theatre Tokens. This means you can claim right now for free a £25 Theatre Voucher to spend on any of our exciting shows. Find out more
Photos: Paul Blakemore
