Circus will take crowd on a ride of adventure (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Circus will take crowd on a ride of adventure

RUSSIAN Cossack riders, stunt horse riding and springboard acrobats are just some of the attractions at this year's offering from Giffords Circus.

The Cold Aston-based circus unveiled its line-up for this year's big top production - The Cockerel Show.

Troupe Tamerlan, three Russian Cossack horse riders, will bring these qualities to the production, hence the rural symbol of The Cockerel.

They also recruited Russian bar act, Trio Slipchencko.

Lower Swell's Emily Campbell is also among the new recruits, as is Nicky de Newman and her horse, Jester.

Emily is an opera singer training with Alison Wells at Trinity College of Music.

She has completed an English National Opera foundation course.

Her credits include La Zia in Longborough Festival Opera's Madam Butterfly production.

Stunt horse rider, Nicky, has starred in shows throughout Europe, including Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at Euro Disney, Paris, in which she played Annie Oakley.They will ride new horses, Red and Rooster, in the show that Giffords unveiled at its Folly Farm headquarters.

Nell and Toti Gifford, who run the circus they founded in 1999, discovered the trio while visiting Russia to recruit new performers at the Moscow State Circus Building.

Nicky has owned Jester for 14 years.

He performs show jumping, gymnastics, vaulting, stunts and trick riding.

Dancer and aerialist, Isabelle Woywode; Tweedy the clown; springboard acrobats, Ewelyn and Cristian Marinoff, and the Sen-sations musicians will be among the Giffords' favourites who will return.

Starting in May, Giffords' Cockerel Tour will visit 11 venues, including Lechlade, Cirencester, Great Barrington and Longborough.

For details and to buy tickets, telephone 01242 572573.