Introduction Menageries Aerial Acts High Wire Acts Trick Riding Clowning Balloon Ascents Side Shows and Freak Shows

Signor Ethardo's Spiral Mountain

Listen to Philip Astley [Download]

‘Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you are enjoying the show so far. For your entertainment let me introduce to you a selection of the finest acts that circus can offer. As you know it was I, Philip Astley who inspired the craze for trick-riding at the circus. But did you know that I also brought other acts to my circus – clowning, wire acts and tumbling. After my death Astley’s Amphitheatre continued to lead the way with exciting new acts. It brought menageries into the circus ring and presented the dare devil animal acts of Mr Isaac Van Amburgh, the first man to put his head in a Lion’s mouth. They even had Balloon ascents from circuses.

Read on to discover more exciting and breathtaking acts…