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The Insect Circus will be appear at this years Winchester Hat Fair (2nd-4th July).

Once one has encountered the bizarre and magical world of the Insect Circus, how could one come away and forget Dungo (son of Dungo) the balancing Scarab Beetle, Tallulah the Worm Charmer, The Heroic Capt. Courage and his Vicious Vespa Wasps, and the Acrobatic Ants?

With its spectacular combination of magical world, physical theatre, circus skills and extraordinary costumes the Insect Circus is a variety show without parallel. Ten performers, including aerialists, a contortionist, a knife thrower and a magician are featured in a show of ten unique acts linked by a ringmaster.

It is from the imaginings of said ringmaster, Sir Ronald McPeak (aka Mark Copeland), and of his partner Lady Bonnie Berkeley (aka Sarah Munro), that the insect circus sprang. Over a two year period, they created The Grand Travelling Insect Circus Museum. In the summer of 2004, under the guise of the Insect Circus Society, they took it on its first outing.

So convincing was their visionary world that many were taken in by its wonderfully surreal and clever conceit. So authentic was the appearance of the artworks and artefacts on display that, on experiencing the museum, circus buffs stood aghast thrilled to have discovered this unknown treasure-trove of an extraordinary tradition. Seemingly lost to the history books, the materials within suggesting a practice dating all the way back to Roman times.

More info can be found at www.insectcircus.co.uk

The Winchester Hat Fair as ever takes place each year (obviously, in Winchester), and this year will continue to uphold its reputation for presenting innovative and beautiful outdoor performances, exciting, unique and highly skilled small-scale shows and an engaging programme of community arts and education, woven into the heart of the beautiful city of Winchester.

This year’s Hat Fair will offer three fun-filled days will be jam-packed with hundreds of breathtaking performances from over 45 national and international companies taking place throughout Winchester’s ancient streets. Even in this economically uncertain world, Hat Fair doesn’t charge the audience a penny for any performances. The shows are free to view for all, though donations for the Artists are massively welcome, look out for those stewards with their collection buckets.

Find out more at www.hatfair.co.uk