Circus

Lore & Background

Performances developed significantly over the next 50 years, with large-scale theatrical battle reenactments becoming a significant feature. The format in which a ringmaster introduces a variety of choreographed acts set to music, often termed 'traditional' or 'classical' circus, developed in the latter part of the nineteenth century and remained dominant until the 1970s.

Reader's Guide

The circus has undergone significant evolution since Astley's time. Early modern circuses were performed in open-air structures with limited covered seating, later giving way to custom-made wooden buildings. The traditional large tents known as 'big tops' were introduced in the mid-nineteenth century as touring circuses superseded static venues. A shift in form since the late 1970s, often termed 'new circus' or 'cirque nouveau', avoided animal use to focus on human artistry, favoring a theatrical approach with character-driven acts and original music. Since the 1990s, 'contemporary circus' has aligned more closely with performance art, dance, or visual arts. The term '21st Century Circus' now encompasses all present-day styles, often staged in theaters for aesthetic or economic reasons. The etymology of 'circus' traces to Latin and Ancient Greek words meaning 'circle, ring', and early Christian writer Tertullian documented a pagan belief that the first circuses were staged by the Greek goddess Circe.

Did You Know?

• Philip Astley adopted a ring diameter of 13 m (43 ft) as the minimum for an acrobatic horse rider to stand upright on a cantering horse.
• The word 'circus' is a borrowing from Latin circus, itself from Ancient Greek κίρκος (kirkos), meaning 'circle, ring'.
• The traditional 'big top' tents were introduced in the mid-nineteenth century as touring circuses superseded static venues.
• Since the late 1970s, 'new circus' groups have typically avoided using animals to focus exclusively on human artistry.