Here is a rather fine photograph taken at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Feb 2008. It features none other than the charming Charmaine Mow, Bobby Bob and Jasper, the wasp, in our fabulous and newly improved Beast Cage (now wired for light and sound)... AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE OF DELIGHTS PLEASE WITNESS AN INTERESTING MOVING PICTURE OF THE SHOW!!
Sir Ronald McPeak
Charmaine Mow&the Antics.
Bobbie Bob& Bobbie.
Mr. Maroc the Beast Tamer
Ephemera the Evanescent Mayfly.
Hat-Trick Hattie.
Les Fleurs de Paree.
The Great Flingo, Daring Daisy May& Mariposa.
Capt. Courage& his Vicious Vespa Wasps.
Nurse Dusty Woodruff& the Mighty Mites Tea Party.
Carmen Gardel& the Mantid Tango.
Tallulah the Worm Charmer.
Dame Peggy Babcock V& Dungo (son of Dungo).
Baron and Baroness Flutterby.
The Museum and Menagerie in Kew Gardens.
The Antics on our Outdoor Stage.
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.
In 2004 and 2005, touring to various street and music festivals, the museum took on a national cult following. Performers who happened upon, and fell in love with, the museum began working with Ronnie and Bonnie to create characters for a walkabout menagerie. From these beginnings, the Insect Circus show was developed.
The show, which premiered in March 2006 at London's Hoxton Hall, has been presented to great acclaim at'The Big Chill','Lovebox Weekender','The Mayor's Thames Festival' (in front of London's Tate Modern), Nottingham Council's'Way Out Fest', Edinburgh Fringe (The Spiegel Garden), Norwich Playhouse and Lakeside Arts Centre Nottingham.
THE INSECT CIRCUS SOCIETY COMPANY OF PLAYERS FOR 2007, 2008 and 2009 has and will include a selection of the following... Elise Audeyev, Sophie Avigdor, Persephone Bayley, Annabel Carberry, Marisa Carnesky, Mark Copeland, Pippa Coram, Simon Darling, Ashling Deeks, Marcos Rivas Farpon, Morgane Jaudou, Emily Laurens, Marawa the Amazing, Claire Marshall, Lyndall Merry, Sarah Munro, Rowan Reid, Pemma Ricardo, Bungo Richardson, Rasp Thorne, Leon Thorpe and Freya Watson.
Photograph credits: Ben Munro, Martha Copeland, Mark Copeland and David Lopes.
This rather delightful film was photographed by Rob Haynes and Philippe Vartan Khazarian, designed by Mark Copeland and edited by Alex de Campi.
The Insect Circus is proud to have support from the above individuals and organizations.
