The Circus of Horrors | |
---|---|
Origin | |
Country | United Kingdom |
Founder(s) | John Haze, Gerry Cottle |
Year founded | 1995 |
Information | |
Ringmaster(s) | Doktor Haze |
Directors | John Haze, Anastasia Sawicka |
Traveling show? | Yes |
Type of acts | Circus, sideshow |
Other information | No animals |
Website | www |
The Circus of Horrors is a British-based contemporary circus created by John (Dr) Haze and Gerry Cottle. [1] They were first seen performing at the Glastonbury Festival in 1995. Blending horror, black comedy and rock music with circus acts, it uses goth and steampunk imagery, and references Victorian freak shows and burlesque. [2] They were semi-finalists on Britain's Got Talent in 2011.
The Circus of Horrors was created by John Haze and Gerry Cottle and debuted at the 1995 Glastonbury Festival. Influences include Alice Cooper, Marc Bolan, Rob Zombie, Jim Rose Circus, and Archaos. [3] [4]
The Circus of Horrors have performed at various festivals, including Glastonbury Festival (three times), Download Festival (four times), Reading and Leeds Festivals, T in the Park, Edinburgh Fringe, Beautiful Days Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Tartan Heart Festival in the United Kingdom, Fuji Rock Festival in Japan (twice), Wacken Festival in Germany, plus shows in the United States, Chile, Uruguay, the Netherlands, Belgium (twice), Argentina, France, Italy, Ireland, Hong Kong, Poland, Jersey, and Moscow where it created history in 2015 by becoming the first British circus ever to perform in Russia. [5] They annually perform at The Great Dorset Steam Fair and Shocktober Fest, and tour theatres across the UK.
Regular performers include Ringmaster Doktor Haze, Hannibal Hellmurto, Anastasia IV, Captain Dan, Gary Stretch, The Mongolian Laughing Boy, Camp Dracula, The Sinister Sisters, The Deadly Divas, and The Voodoo Warriors. They have also performed with many stars and celebrities including Alice Cooper, Gary Numan, Marilyn Manson, Boy George, Cradle of Filth, Lenny Henry, Dani Behr, Gary Lineker, Robbie Williams, Yvette Fielding, Arthur Brown, Ant & Dec, Screaming Lord Sutch, and Jeremy Beadle. [6] [7] [8]
The Circus of Horrors hold numerous Guinness World Records, including the world's largest custard pie fight, [9] most swords swallowed in one minute, 1040 vampires in the same place at the same time, greatest weight lifted by the hair, [10] most amount of naked rollercoaster riders, [11] and the largest human mobile which contained 16 men, including Dr Haze, suspended from a crane 150ft above the River Thames.
In 2011, The Circus of Horrors appeared on the fifth series of Britain's Got Talent and became the only circus act to ever reach the finals of the show. [12] They were the first circus to perform in London's West End in over 100 years and were the only circus to perform in a single venue in London (the Roundhouse) for 24 weeks, (previous record was 17 weeks).[ citation needed ] In 2019, The Circus of Horrors performed with The Damned at the London Palladium. [13]
The ringmaster and founder Doktor Haze died on 15 April 2023, after battling oesophageal cancer for a year.
Norman Quentin Cook, also known by his stage name Fatboy Slim, is an English musician, DJ, and record producer who helped to popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s. In the 1980s, Cook was the bassist for the Hull-based indie rock band the Housemartins, who achieved a UK number-one single with their a cappella cover of "Caravan of Love". After the Housemartins split up, Cook formed the electronic band Beats International in Brighton, who produced the number-one single "Dub Be Good to Me". He then played in Freak Power, Pizzaman, and the Mighty Dub Katz with moderate success.
Glastonbury Festival is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts held near Pilton, Somerset, England, in most summers. In addition to contemporary music, the festival hosts dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret, and other arts. Leading pop and rock artists have headlined, alongside thousands of others appearing on smaller stages and performance areas. Films and albums have been recorded at the festival, and it receives extensive television and newspaper coverage.
Joe Rush is a British artist. He is the founder of Mutoid Waste Company, a performance arts collective that has performed at Glastonbury Festival.
Daniel Lloyd Davey, known professionally as Dani Filth, is an English singer who is the lead vocalist, lyricist and founding member of the extreme metal band Cradle of Filth.
Billy Smart Jr. was a British circus performer and impresario.
A ringmaster or ringmistress, or sometimes a ringleader, is a significant performer in many circuses. Most often seen in traditional circuses, the ringmaster is a master of ceremonies that introduces the circus acts to the audience. In smaller circuses, the ringmaster is often the owner and artistic director of the circus.
Sam Duckworth is an English musician who performs as Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. He is also sometimes referred to as Get Cape, Cape, GCWCF and Slam Dunkworth. According to Duckworth, his original stage name came from Retro Gamer magazine, from an article about superhero games such as Batman containing the heading "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly", although a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon by Bill Watterson has also been cited. In addition to the Get Cape name, and his given name, Duckworth has released music under the moniker Recreations.
"I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)" is a song from Walt Disney's 1967 film The Jungle Book. The song was written by songwriters Robert and Richard Sherman, and was performed by singer and musician Louis Prima as King Louie, with Phil Harris providing additional vocals as Baloo the bear.
Sam Wills is a New Zealand prop comic, busker, clown, and mime artist residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. He performs under the name The Boy With Tape On His Face and, more recently, as Tape Face. He was also half of the two-person act Spitroast and sometimes performed under his own name, Sam Wills. He has been featured in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, the World Buskers Festival, and was a finalist on Season 11 of America's Got Talent.
Andrew Van Buren is a British multi skilled performer, illusionist, plate spinner and showman who specialises in presenting large-scale illusions, plate spinning routines, magic, juggling and circus style skills in all type of performance venues.
Stephanie Dosen is an American singer-songwriter, knitwear designer and member of the band Snowbird. She was raised in Wisconsin. Her songs have been featured on the soundtracks of the TV shows Dawson's Creek, NUMB3RS and Party of Five.
The Jive Aces are a six-piece UK-based, swing band that was formed in 1989. They were Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists in 2012. They have released 11 albums, as well as compilations, EPs and singles and have performed at numerous music festivals.
Lodewijk Fluttert, best known by his stage name Bakermat, is a Dutch DJ. His music is characterised by a mix of dance, soul, jazz, funk and pop.
Gerald Ward Cottle was a British circus owner and the owner of the Wookey Hole Caves in Somerset. He presented the Moscow State Circus and Chinese State Circus in Britain, founded Gerry Cottle's Circus, and co-founded The Circus of Horrors.
Lee Ridley, better known by his stage name the Lost Voice Guy, is an English stand-up comedian. Disabled since early life, and unable to speak, in June 2018 he won the 12th series of Britain's Got Talent.
Jane Postlethwaite is an English comedian, writer and actor. She is originally from Cumbria, England.
Flea circuses in popular culture are represented in numerous cartoons, films, television shows, music, and novels. A flea circus is a sideshow in a fairground or circus that may involve real or artificial fleas as performers.
John Hayes Mabley, better known by his stage name Doktor Haze, was a British circus owner and performer, singer-songwriter, director, and author. He was the owner, ringmaster and director of The Circus of Horrors, in which he co-founded with Gerry Cottle in 1995, which has become Britain's longest-running alternative circus.
Marina Mazepa is a Ukrainian actress, model, dancer, and contortionist. She is known for competing in the fourteenth season of America's Got Talent and reaching the quarterfinals. She has also competed in talent show competitions such as So You Think You Can Dance, France's Got Talent, and Ukraine's Everybody Dance! As an actress, she has appeared in films such as Malignant, The Unholy, and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City.