After more than 30 years exiled in the Eastern European land-locked principality of Cromania, the Count of Brasso makes a triumphant return to his native Britain.
He brings with him his astonishing Cromanian Insect Circus. Their extraordinary show highlights traditions peculiar to the region and features an array of novelties never before witnessed in this country.
JACKSONS LANE THEATRE, Highgate, London. 31st OCTOBER 2011 at 8.00pm
N.B. The Count of Brasso will be better known to insect circus afficionados as Roland McPeak, estranged twin brother of Sir Ronald McPeak - proprietor of popular favourites The Insect Circus.
THIS IS AN ADULT SHOW. DUE TO THE UNUSUAL NATURE OF SOME OF THE ACTS, IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13.
Albina the awesome and her Mantids at Arte TV's "Tracks" programme's extraordinary Tracks Circus show. Paris, November 2010.Broadcast: 2nd December 2010
The Insect Circus at Carouge en Cirque, April 2010
Filmed and edited by Fabio Manozzi.
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A lovely little Swiss Info film of our recent excursion to Geneva.
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The Insect Circus Museum is proud to have been used as a location in the Puppini Sisters 2008 video - 'Jilted'. It was directed by Alex de Campi who graciously then edited our 'Showreel'.
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The Insect Circus Showreel. Filmed by Philippe Vartan Khazarian and Rob Haynes and edited by Alex de Campi.
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Roland has been renovating an old family heirloom- 'Mr. Mc.Peak's Rarity Show'. This old wonder was premiered at the Roundhouse on 12th July 2007 as part of 'A Night at the End of the Pier with Marisa Carnesky'. Sadly it has again fallen in to disrepair and is no longer available for showing. However, some of its contents have now been installed in the Insect Circus Museum!
The Rarity Show was finely made and fitted with glasses of magnifying power revealing eight scenes from Insect Circus history. (Including Arachnachaos, Mr. McPeak's Music Hall and Boll Weevil Bill's Wild West Show!)
Mr. McPeak's Music Hall.
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In 2008 the Insect Circus was chosen by Time Out to be one of the '1000 Things to do in Britain'.
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THE BUNDLE AT BLACKTHORPE HEATH, written and illustrated by MARK COPELAND was published, by Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, on July 26th 2007. Set in the world of the late Victorian insect circus, the author gathered the source material for this rather wonderful tale from the Insect Circus Society's extensive collection.
'It's Art's birthday, and he receives a brass spyglass from his grandfather, the respected insect circus ringmaster Sir Henry Piper. No sooner than his grandfather tells him to use the spyglass for only good purposes (no spying!), Art accidentally sees something he shouldn't . . .Enter a world of incredible delight and mischievous mystery, where snails, beetles, and bees make up one of the greatest spectacles on earth. Where humans and insects share the circus ring as friends and colleagues. And where a boy and a girl -with a little help from a pet ladybug- try to prevent one of the biggest bundles to hit the traveling insect circus circuit in years!'
ISBN-13/EAN: 9780618563029; $15.00 ISBN-10: 0618563024
Hardcover; 224 pages. Coming Soon. Publication Date: 06/26/2006. Illustrations: Black-and-white line drawings.Available to order now at on-line bookstores.
KIRKUS REVIEW. July 2006:"The expertly tightened suspense builds to a magnificently funny climax with an entirely satisfying closing twist...A good prospect for hottest ticket of the season."
Booklist, ALA :"Cheerfully tongue-in-cheek, resolutely old-timey, and intensely imaginative, this tale follows a traveling circus through the British countryside." -Booklist
School Library Journal :"The story strikes a charming balance of mystery and drama...the eclectic cast keeps the pages turning."
Publishers Weekly :"...Copeland's charming fantasy of human and insect interaction...will likely amuse both adults and children."
