Moscow State Circus – Legenda (Sunderland)

While there is no doubting the skills of the acts, there were no sitting on the edge of your seat moments or gasps of disbelief from the audience, at any point.

Even though Gorbachevsky provided some great illusions and The Popazov act involved firing seven crossbows simultaneously, the show is constantly slowed down by returning to a story of Russian folk lore. A pre recorded commentary tells us of Rasputin’s life as the show progresses, with both classical and contemporary circus acts appearing between the segments on Rasputin.

While all acts worked extremely hard and all the ingredients of a great circus are present such as, tumblers, acrobats, twisting contortionists and slapstick, the show just never takes off.

This show may be very different if seen in the Big Top, but feels safe, too safe, in a theatre.