Where did the circus come from? Irkutsk welcomes guests

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 12:35

Do you like clowns and trained animals? When was the circus visiting your city? Irkutsk can answer this question, that the guest performers constantly delight the northerners with new exciting programs. Recall what guests were in the summer season of 2014 in this Siberian city. And for starters, a little about the history of the creation of the Irkutsk center of cultural and entertainment leisure.

Since when has there been a circus in the capital of the Angara region? Irkutsk celebrates its anniversary in 2014

Just a few months later, in December, the circus will celebrate its 50th anniversary. But in fact, only the stone building built in 1964 turns fifty years old. Until that time, the Irkutsk circus functioned as a troupe of artists with its changing repertoire for a very long time. According to history, at the end of the 18th century, namely in 1795, Irkutsk was first visited by the circus performer Mikoletto with his troupe, which included both acrobats and trained animals. Later, in 1868, another magician settled in the city - Soulier (Italian master). He even built a modest wooden structure with his own savings.

But the local people did not rejoice for long. Fire1900 destroyed the circus. In its place, temporary structures were periodically erected, or a circus tent was equipped. And only in the aforementioned 1964 a stone building for 1732 spectators appeared in Irkutsk. Now the circus not only gives its own performances, but also gladly welcomes guests from other regions.

The Seven Wonders Program

Not so long ago, in May-June of this year, I was visiting a circus tent. Irkutsk met "7 Wonders of the World". The presentation program included the following numbers:

- attraction with lions and tigers "King of the Jungle";

- trained dogs "Doggy Freestyle";

- attraction with pythons, camels, llamas, monkeys, etc. "Tales of the East";

- turning a person into a fire and an aquarium;

- power number with car.

And, of course, there were those without whom the circus could not be called a circus - clowns, jugglers, tightrope walkers, illusionists. The presentation mode was as follows:

Day of the week	Start
Wednesday	18.00
Friday	18.00
Saturday	13.00, 17.00
Sunday	13.00, 17.00

In the middle of summer the Moscow circus came. Irkutsk hosted the Ice Planet show

To replace the "7 Wonders" came to the citytroupe of circus figure skaters. The performances were very varied and colorful. The main characters were, of course, jugglers, acrobats, tightrope walkers and trainers. At the same time, a lot of animals skillfully performed on skates. At the height of summer, an out-of-season performance was given by the Moscow circus. Irkutsk met the ice show with unusually friendly and homely warmth. Although the winter theme for the northerners, unlike the southern inhabitants of Russia, is not a wonder, all the numbers were accepted by the audience with a bang. Particularly noticeable was the last performance, which differed from all the previous ones with an unusual theme - the celebration of the name day of the new artist.

Tour surprise - the birth of a sea lion

The arrival of Muscovites was an unusual event. The summer tour with the Ice Planet program was planned to be completed in the capital of the Angara region in mid-July. But the birth of a new artist - a sea lion cub - delayed the Moscow circus in the city. Irkutsk became the motherland for the cub. At the last performance, a competition was held to name the pet. Spectators lowered drawings of a sea lion and notes with fictitious names into a box specially installed for this purpose near the cash register. It is this last performance that will surely be remembered by the Moscow circus on ice. Irkutsk gave a name to a new artist. Of the many options, they chose the most original and fair. Now the sea lion cub proudly bears the name Irkut. Very funny, isn't it? A real Siberian, though born in the height of summer.

Sorry nowthe city circus does not have its own functioning troupe with artists. But the building itself is never empty. Some guest performers replace others. So, in addition to Russian artists, foreign delegations also visit the city circus, delighting the audience with their unique colorful performances. These are troupes from France, Germany, Poland, Hungary, China and many other countries. And the invariable accompaniment of miracles is the local circus orchestra. Visit the Irkutsk Circus!