A spectacular performance. Courtesy of Moscow Circus
A spectacular performance. Courtesy of Moscow Circus

The producers of the Chinese State Circus that enthralled residents in the UAE last year have a new spectacular that will have its world premiere in the capital this month.

Afshan Ahmed

September 23, 2013

Circus comes to town

The Moscow Grand Circus is the newest production by Gandey World Class Productions, the company credited with creating shows including the Cirque Surreal and Edinburgh International Circus Festival for the past 40 years in the Middle East, China, UK and western Europe.

After the success of the Chinese State Circus in the UAE, the directors Phillip and Carol Gandey decided to debut their latest two-hour show in Abu Dhabi this week.

Clowns to the left of me…

The circus will be a melange of traditional acts within a contemporary setting. A range of Russian circus moves have been paired with ballet, daring acrobatics and clowns to appeal to the young and old. The circus also brings ­together renowned and emerging performers from other well-known festivals.

“Following the successful run of the Chinese State Circus last year, we are pleased to host the Moscow Grand Circus,” says Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, the chief commercial officer at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which will host the troupe for the four days of the show.

“Over the years, we have found an ideal partner in the company for the creativity it brings to the world of entertainment and its capacity to meet the expectations of the discerning audiences in the UAE.”

The highlight performances

Phillip Gandey, the director at Gandey World Class Productions, says they attempted to create an innovative Russian circus performance. “We have hand-picked artists for the Moscow Grand Circus to create a one-of-a-kind show,” he says.

The circus will have award-winning clowns from the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival and Didyk Troupe, which will display daring acts on the trapeze.

Fakhriddin Akhnazarov, dubbed the strongest man in the world, will also make an appearance in the show.

The athlete, whose feats are registered in the Guinness World Records, is able to lift 150kgs with a rope held between his teeth and can hammer down a nail with his bare hands.

“We look forward to entertaining and challenging the imagination of our audiences in this region,” says Gandey.

The shows

Six shows have been scheduled from Wednesday until Saturday. The two-hour performance has a 20-minute interval. On the first two days the shows will commence at 7pm; the shows on Friday will begin at 3pm and 7.30pm. On Saturday, there are two shows, at 11am and 3.30pm. Tickets start from Dh150 for adults, and children under 12 will be charged half price.

aahmed@thenational.ae