Great Moscow State Circus at Bolton Reebok Stadium 29th April to 4th May

Russia's most spectacular circus performers spring into action at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium.

The circus occupies a special place in the cultural life of Russia. When Catherine the Great first invited the English trick rider and impresario Charles Hughes to St Petersburg to open a riding school, she began a series of events that were to change the cultural landscape of Russia forever.

Circus went on to become possibly the biggest form of entertainment in Russia. The Communist governments praised it because it could be enjoyed by everyone regardless of race, class, education or language. This led to a huge investment in the art form and by the time Communism entered its final days, Russia was home to more than 70 significant circuses.

Of these, the Moscow State Circus is the largest to survive. Based at a 5-tent site in Moscow, the troupe shares acts with the Great Moscow State Circus, a 31-strong team of clowns, trapeze artists, aerial acrobats, springboard acrobats and magicians based in the UK.

The Great Moscow State Circus are now touring their brand new show for 2009, which has never been shown before in Western Europe. Combining daredevil stunts with clowning, magic with trick riding and skill with sublime spectacle, this show will knock your socks off.