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Tags: Cotswolds, Giffords Circus, circus, Summer, show, Family, day out, Blenheim Palace, National Landscape, West End, theatre, Entertainment, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, London
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Giffords Circus, renowned as the most glamorous circus, will celebrate its 25th anniversary year with a spectacular new show, Laguna Bay, set to tour the Cotswolds and south England from 17th April – 28th September 2025.
Over the past 25 years since its first inception, Giffords Circus has captivated and entertained over one million people with its unique, creative and dazzling shows, performed under the canvas of its iconic touring 600 seat big top tent. Giffords Circus expertly challenges the preconceptions of a traditional, old-fashioned circus, while retaining the charm, glamour, nostalgia and magic of a vintage village green circus.
Giffords Circus has earned a reputation for creating West End worthy performances set against the picturesque backdrop of southern England's finest landscapes, featuring a diverse cast of talented performers, acrobats, magicians, musicians, clowns, artistes, poets and entertainers, working harmoniously to create unique, theatrical performances to critical acclaim.
Affectionately referred to as a 'handmade show', Giffords Circus has a distinctive identity, lovingly handcrafted by creatives who are deeply passionate about this long-standing artform. So iconic is Giffords Circus that its photographs have featured in publications including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar and also has artwork featured in London's V&A Museum, its tent and performers have formed the backdrop of high-end fashion campaigns, and in 2022 Giffords Circus was invited to perform an act at the Royal Albert Hall for the Royal Variety Performance. In 2024, Giffords Circus was featured in the BBC's adaptation of Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five'.
Since 2012, Giffords Circus has been lovingly guided by award-winning director, writer and performer, Cal McCrystal, who has an established career spanning theatre, opera, film, TV and radio. Amongst many notable career highlights, Cal was Physical Comedy Director on the Royal National Theatre's multi award-winning hit One Man, Two Guvnors, which transferred to the West End and Broadway. Cal has also directed for Cirque du Soleil, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Irish National Theatre, English National Opera and Glyndebourne Opera. He has resident shows at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas and Caesars Palace in Atlantic City. Cal was also physical comedy consultant on the first two Paddington feature films.
Cal McCrystal, director of Giffords Circus, said: “For our 25th anniversary, we have invited a dazzling mix of new faces and old favourites that will surprise and delight our beloved audiences. Set in the buoyant and sunny era of 1950s America, Laguna Bay is a spectacular blend of fun, excitement and charm.
To come to Giffords Circus is to immerse yourself in another world and escape everyday life for a few blissful hours. Our astonishing mix of thrills, skills, adventure, romance, theatrics and hilarity will change all your preconceptions of traditional circus.''
Laguna Bay will launch on 17th April 2025 at the home of Giffords Circus, Fennells Farm in Stroud. Following its opening run, it will then continue to tour some of the most picturesque sites across the Cotswolds and south England, including Bowood House & Gardens in Wiltshire (1st – 6th May), Sudeley Castle & Gardens in Gloucestershire (9th – 19th May), Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire (22nd May – 2nd June), Chiswick House & Gardens in London (5th – 22nd June), Evenley Wood Garden in Northamptonshire (26th June – 7th July), Stonor Park & Gardens in Oxfordshire (10th – 14th July), Little Barrington in Oxfordshire (17th – 28th July), Frampton Court Park in Gloucestershire (31st July – 4th August), Minchinhampton Common in Gloucestershire (7th – 18th August), Marlborough Common in Wiltshire (21st August – 1st September), Stratton Meadows in Gloucestershire (4th – 15th September) before returning back home to Fennells Farm in Stroud to close the season (18th – 28th September).
Circus Sauce – Giffords Circus' unique, critically-acclaimed travelling restaurant – will return to accompany the Laguna Bay tour, serving a rustic yet extravagant banquet style three-course feast on selected evenings following the last show of the day, created by a team of talented chefs using local, seasonal ingredients (pre-booking essential). The popular Circus Sauce Café and Diner wagons will also accompany the tour, serving delicious dishes such as smash burgers, halloumi burgers, hot dogs, fries and vegan or vegetarian alternatives, some with an American twist along with a great choice of teas and coffees. Giffords Circus also has a fully licensed bar serving locally sourced alcoholic and soft drinks throughout show days and for dinner service in the restaurant.
Tickets for Giffords Circus Laguna Bay start from £10 for children and from £20 for adults. Tickets for Circus Sauce restaurant are £20 for children and £40 for adults (if booked before 16th April 2025). All tickets are on sale now and available to book at https://giffordscircus.com/
ENDS.
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About Giffords Circus
Giffords Circus is a magical village circus that tours south England each year from April through to late September hosting spectacular, immersive live performances in a 600-capacity tent.
First launched in 2000, Giffords Circus was created by Nell Gifford (and her former husband Toti) whose dream it was to start her own magical travelling circus. Over the past 25 years since its inception, Giffords Circus has entertained over one million people with its unique, creative and dazzling performances.
Giffords Circus expertly challenges the preconceptions of a traditional, old-fashioned circus.
Giffords has earned a reputation for creating West End worthy shows set against the picturesque backdrop of south England's finest landscapes, featuring a diverse cast of talented performers, acrobats, magicians, musicians, clowns, artists, poets and entertainers, working harmoniously to create unique, theatrical performances.
Giffords Circus 2025 tour:
Laguna Bay – set in the buoyant and sunny era of 1950s America, Laguna Bay is a spectacular blend of fun, excitement and charm. Welcoming a dazzling mix of new faces and old favourites that will surprise and delight audiences.
Directed by award-winning director, writer and performer, Cal McCrystal, who has an established career spanning theatre, film, TV and radio.
Dates and locations (including direct link to further info/tickets):
Fennells Farm, Stroud, Gloucestershire
17th – 21st April
24th – 27th April
Bowood House and Gardens, Calne, Wiltshire
1st – 6th May
Sudeley Castle and Gardens, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
9th – 12th May
15th – 19th May
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
22nd – 26th May
29th May – 2nd June
Chiswick House and Gardens, Chiswick, London
5th – 9th June
12th – 16th June
19th – 22nd June
Evenley Wood Garden, Evenley, Northamptonshire
26th – 30th June
3rd – 7th July
Stonor Park and Gardens, Stonor, Oxfordshire
10th – 14th July
Little Barrington, near Burford, Oxfordshire
17th – 21st July
24th – 28th July
Frampton Court Park, Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire
31st July – 4th August
Minchinhampton Common, Stroud, Gloucestershire
7th – 12th August
14th – 18th August
Marlborough Common, Marlborough, Wiltshire
21st – 25th August
28th August – 1st September
Stratton Meadows, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
4th – 8th September
11th – 15th September
Fennells Farm, Stroud, Gloucestershire
18th – 22nd September
25th – 28th September
Full list of tour dates and ticket info: https://giffordscircus.com/book-tickets/