GIFFORDS take a giant leap for circus-kind when their new moon themed show lands in Stroud this week.
The troupe beam down to Fennels Farm in Lypiatt on Friday, where performances of Moon Songs will run until Monday, May 18.
They then blast off into orbit around the Cotswolds on their summer 2015 tour.
Nell and Toti Gifford took inspiration for this year’s extravaganza from the 1902 French silent movie Georges Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon. The film includes the well-known image of a rocket-ship landing in the Man in the Moon’s eye.
Directed by Cal McCrystal, Moon Songs takes place in an imaginary fairground called Luna Park, run by larger than life illusionist and man of magic and mystery Odoroff, and his Little Man assistant, David.
This year’s eclectic ensemble of clowns, acrobats, musicians, horses, dogs and more, features a combination of old favourites and newcomers.
Tweedy the clown is back - he will be shot from a cannon and then turn into the Man in the Moon.
Jugglers Bibi and Bichu return, but this time 13 of their Ethiopian relatives join them in a sequence of dancing and gymnastics.
The show also includes Argentinean magician Maxi, little guy David from Germany, and Katia, a hula hooper from Hungary.
For three weeks the performers have been intensively going over their routines at the Cotswold Playhouse, on Parliament Street in Stroud, before transferring to the big top for dress rehearsals this week.
Established in 2000 by Nell and Toti Gifford, Giffords Circus is renowned for its eclectic circus theatre fusion style.
They experiment with the circus form, weaving theatre, opera, dance and puppetry into a 90 minute fun-filled show.
Moon Songs opens at Giffords Circus’ new HQ at Fennells Farm, Stroud on Friday at 6pm, till May 18, and will return there from September 17 to 20.
For a full list of tour dates, locations and to book tickets, visit the Giffords Circus website at giffordscircus.com or call the Box Office on 0845 459 7469.