Circus of Horrors - Roll up, Roll up!
To all who are reading this,
When I heard that Circus of Horrors was returning to Grimsby, I was so excited! Having seen it the previous year (2014), I was looking forward to seeing any new additions to the show.
This year the shoe became known as Circus of Horrors: The Night of the Zombie, which according to the cast is now celebrating its twentieth anniversary! So on 28 January, my partner and I collected our tickets arrived at the Grimsby Auditorium, ready for what awaited us this time around.
Once again, we entered the venue to scantily clad women, who must have been freezing as they waited for people to arrive. The women were part of the act, and they kept to their roles - their heavily made up faces were full of concentration. They offered official brochures for sale, which we took. A menacing Dracula was near the entrance to the seating and was offering people the chance to enter the official stocks and have their photographs taken.
And yes, I chickened out.
Our seats were four rows from the back, and around six seats in from the right. We had a great view of the stage and whilst people arrived, the women and Dracula wandered amongst the audience, asking people if they would like to purchase programmes. The stage dims and Camp Dracula announces who he is and how long it will take for the show to begin. He interacts with the audience, and practises a card trick on a young man on the front row (called Adam), rousing us all in the spirits.
Three minutes later and the show begins. The live rock music is amazing whilst lights, and pyrotechnics flash. Parts of the acts begin, but it was not until maybe ten minutes in that the lights are fully turned off and various zombies begin climbing audience members. I had my shoulder groped by a latex hand, and I heard him groan in my ear, whilst my partner laughed himself stupid at my predicament.
The Night of the Zombie takes us through London where the blood of two beautiful virgins soaked the grounds and brought zombies to the surface.
Here is a list of performers we witnessed!
- Dr Haze, the undead Ringmaster.
- Hannibal Helmurto, the tattooed, pierced, forked tongue sword swallower
- Anastacia IV, also known as the Hairculian Diva, with her act of using her hair to spin herself over the audience
- Sergey the Seducer and Hanna, the Hell Woman, who perform stunning adagio acts
- Captain Dan, the dwarf who superglued his penis to a Henry Hoover
- The VooDoo Warriors, who are able to perform amazing gymnastic feats
- Sycho Sean, the knife thrower and his glamorous assistant, Daynamite
- The Sinister Sisters, performing stunning and mesmerising acts above the crowds
- Camp Dracula, an assistant and comedic gentleman
- Garry Stretch, a Grimsby born gentleman who appeared for our show only, and able to stretch his skin to epic proportions
I don't know if he counts but Adam from Camp Dracula's card trick at the beginning of the show, was routinely brought up during the acts. He was a good sport throughout it all! And yes, audience participation can be required...
Music was provided from the House Band - the Interceptors From Hell!
I have been astounded each time I have seen the show, and I'm already anticipating the next time I see the cast and crew work their magic! I met Dr Haze for the second time, which was a real treat!
The Circus of Horrors contains some nudity and language of an adult nature. It is not suitable for the squeamish or those with nervous dispositions. Or children, sissies, or chavs. This show contains nuts - seriously. Due to the dangerous nature of the performance, individual acts may sometimes change. And of course, do not try this at home!
You can check out a taster of what I experienced here!
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz
When I heard that Circus of Horrors was returning to Grimsby, I was so excited! Having seen it the previous year (2014), I was looking forward to seeing any new additions to the show.
This year the shoe became known as Circus of Horrors: The Night of the Zombie, which according to the cast is now celebrating its twentieth anniversary! So on 28 January, my partner and I collected our tickets arrived at the Grimsby Auditorium, ready for what awaited us this time around.
Once again, we entered the venue to scantily clad women, who must have been freezing as they waited for people to arrive. The women were part of the act, and they kept to their roles - their heavily made up faces were full of concentration. They offered official brochures for sale, which we took. A menacing Dracula was near the entrance to the seating and was offering people the chance to enter the official stocks and have their photographs taken.
And yes, I chickened out.
Our seats were four rows from the back, and around six seats in from the right. We had a great view of the stage and whilst people arrived, the women and Dracula wandered amongst the audience, asking people if they would like to purchase programmes. The stage dims and Camp Dracula announces who he is and how long it will take for the show to begin. He interacts with the audience, and practises a card trick on a young man on the front row (called Adam), rousing us all in the spirits.
Three minutes later and the show begins. The live rock music is amazing whilst lights, and pyrotechnics flash. Parts of the acts begin, but it was not until maybe ten minutes in that the lights are fully turned off and various zombies begin climbing audience members. I had my shoulder groped by a latex hand, and I heard him groan in my ear, whilst my partner laughed himself stupid at my predicament.
The Night of the Zombie takes us through London where the blood of two beautiful virgins soaked the grounds and brought zombies to the surface.
Here is a list of performers we witnessed!
- Dr Haze, the undead Ringmaster.
- Hannibal Helmurto, the tattooed, pierced, forked tongue sword swallower
- Anastacia IV, also known as the Hairculian Diva, with her act of using her hair to spin herself over the audience
- Sergey the Seducer and Hanna, the Hell Woman, who perform stunning adagio acts
- Captain Dan, the dwarf who superglued his penis to a Henry Hoover
- The VooDoo Warriors, who are able to perform amazing gymnastic feats
- Sycho Sean, the knife thrower and his glamorous assistant, Daynamite
- The Sinister Sisters, performing stunning and mesmerising acts above the crowds
- Camp Dracula, an assistant and comedic gentleman
- Garry Stretch, a Grimsby born gentleman who appeared for our show only, and able to stretch his skin to epic proportions
I don't know if he counts but Adam from Camp Dracula's card trick at the beginning of the show, was routinely brought up during the acts. He was a good sport throughout it all! And yes, audience participation can be required...
Music was provided from the House Band - the Interceptors From Hell!
I have been astounded each time I have seen the show, and I'm already anticipating the next time I see the cast and crew work their magic! I met Dr Haze for the second time, which was a real treat!
The Circus of Horrors contains some nudity and language of an adult nature. It is not suitable for the squeamish or those with nervous dispositions. Or children, sissies, or chavs. This show contains nuts - seriously. Due to the dangerous nature of the performance, individual acts may sometimes change. And of course, do not try this at home!
You can check out a taster of what I experienced here!
Yours, with eternal ink,
Zoe
---
Currently reading: Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz
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