LAUGHTER is the best tonic and there will be buckets of fun when the National Circus Festival rolls into Tralee to light up the winter days and nights from 15-17 November.
A sell-out local event with an international flavour, the Tralee Circus Festival in association with Siamsa Tire is the premier annual gathering for jugglers, contemporary circus acts and street performers since 2000.
Con Horgan, Artistic Director of the National Circus Festival of Ireland, said: “We are aiming to build on the success of last year’s Festival which saw us rebrand the event as the National Circus Festival of Ireland. On a positive note for tourism, the event attracted hundreds of performers and visitors to Tralee during the dead of winter and brought smiles to the faces of hundreds of people. The three stage performances in Siamsa Tire sold-out, while the workshops and convention attracted huge interest from children and budding circus performers.”
Among this year’s main attractions will be the highly popular and entertaining Fidget Feet who will perform a spectacular free outdoor show over Denny Street from 3pm on Sunday afternoon, 17 November.
Circus Siamsa is proving to be one of the most popular annual theatre experiences in Siamsa Tire and we are proud to bring back the hilarious comedy acrobat duo, Lords of Strut, who were recently crowned the World Street Performance Champions for 2013.
Internationally acclaimed performers, Mumusic will take to the stage in Siamsa Tire Theatre on Friday 15th November at 8.30pm for what is expected to be a great opening night’s entertainment.
Family audiences will not be disappointed with an international line-up that features: Comedy Trapeze duo – Tumble Circus (UK/Sweden); Slack Rope Walker – Il Cataldo (Ireland/Italy); Juggler – Patrik Elmnert (Sweden); Clown – Hardy Har Har (Australia); Football Juggler – Sir Edwin Long Bottom (UK) and Clown/Circus – Ouch Entertainment (Belgium); Magician – Brian Daly (Ireland).
This year’s Circus Convention and Workshops will move to Tralee Town Centre this year at the Moyderwell School Hall on Friday 15th November from 10am-7pm; Saturday 16th November from 10am-9pm and Sunday 17th November from 10am-2pm.
Con Horgan paid tribute to the sponsors of the National Circus Festival of Ireland without whose support the showcase event on the Irish circus calendar would not be possible.
“We are grateful to the Arts Council of Ireland for their continued support, to Siamsa Tire Theatre, the premier arts venue in Kerry for hosting our circus shows and the Carlton and the Tralee Central Hotels for their input and cooperation,” said Con.
He thanked Kerry County Council, Tralee Town Council and Tralee Chamber Alliance for recognising the key role the National Circus Festival of Ireland plays in filling hotel rooms in Tralee at a quiet time of year.
The National Circus Festival of Ireland will run from 15-17 November in Tralee with a number of ticket options available to suit families, students and all-round entertainment lovers.
Full details of all shows, workshops, Festival Club at the Carlton Hotel and outdoor performances in Tralee Town Centre are available from www.circusfestival.ie and from www.siamsatire.com.
