Circuses at the double for Wolverhampton

Every type of talent will be on show in Wolverhampton this week as two circus acts roll in.

Two of the most exciting circuses in the world will bring thrills and spills to the Black Country with performances planned at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall.

The Circus of Horrors will present The Ventriloquist – the show that rocked Britain's Got Talent – tonight.

The incomparable Chinese State Circus will then visit on Tuesday and Wednesday to present the UK premiere of Yin Yang. The shows are part of a 37-date theatre tour that will take them the length and breadth of the UK.

Chinese State Circus spokeswoman Becki Wiper said the highly-anticipated return of China's greatest circus to the UK would feature a performance from the formidable Shaolin Warrior, known only as The One.

She said: "This unique extravaganza showcases only the best in entertainment. Fans can witness acrobats defying gravity in an array of elaborate, explosive and highly choreographed presentations of power, poise and agility.

"Yin Yang will not only keep the audience on the edge of their seats but show the more delicate and beautiful side of Chinese tradition with the silk aerial act, parasol juggling, eye catching Lion Dance and the amazing 'Bicycle Act', in which 10 talented artistes manoeuvre onto a single bicycle.

"Audiences can witness the unpredictable and exhilarating twists of foot juggling with drums, the famous Chinese poles, the sensational contortionist and the dynamic hoop divers with their amazing somersaults, leaps and jumps which all go towards completing this action packed programme."

Ms Wiper added that there would also be an all-girl group of live musicians.

The circus have won rave reviews from regional newspapers around the UK with the London Evening Standard describing it as: "The most exhilarating circus it has ever been my privilege to see".

Manchester Evening News, meanwhile, wrote: "Never has such excitement been generated in a theatre . . . the whole audience hangs breathless!"

Tickets are available on 0870 320 7000 and there will be performances at 8pm on Tuesday and at 5pm and 8pm on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, The Circus of Horrors will present the show that made them nationwide sensations on Britain's Got Talent.

The production will take the audience on a whirlwind journey thorugh 1921 Berlin, three years after the First World War.

A spokesman for the Circus of Horrors said: "This was the roaring twenties, a decedent decade and the birth of the cabaret.

"One particular venue was struggling to make ends meet, new blood was needed and it was found when Dr Haze rolled into town with his Vampire Vaudeville show, featuring hair hanging beauties, twisted contortionists, flying aerialists, demon dwarfs, gyrating jugglers, voodoo warriors, pickled people, sword swallowers and its latest and greatest new-found star, The Ventriloquist."

Tickets are available at www.wolvescivic.co.uk

Andy Richardson