The Belgrade becomes a Big Top as Cirque Berserk rolls into town

How best to bring the circus to the centre of Coventry?

Short of plonking the Big Top in the middle of Broadgate – keeping her ladyship Godiva pride of place of course – the next best option is transforming Coventry's expansive Belgrade Theatre into a stage for the circus.

Until tomorrow, Cirque Berserk is in town.

It has an amazing group of talents, brought together from across the world like a superhero origins story.

Only here their purpose is not to save the world but to provide hours of cracking entertainment, laughs and astonishment.

The Belgrade Theatre has the large stage and pulleys to show off the skills of Cirque Berserk's incredible acrobatics – swinging from ropes and ribbons to defy gravity and dance high in the air.

Cirque Beserk

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Opening night

A team of Cuban catapulters can twirl high into the stage's arch, landing with the poise of Olympic gymnasts.

Laci Fossett can perform a rarely seen display of strength in the 'aerial pole act' while sparks and flames hiss throughout to heat up the show.

Even on its opening night on Thursday, the auditorium was almost packed out – evidence of Coventry's dedication to the circus craft.

The annual Zippo's Circus on Hearsall Common has brought some of the Cirque Berserk crew to amaze the city before, and they clearly have Coventrians hooked.

The lights are down, the tension builds, and with the sound of a whistle the Timbuktu Tumblers roll out to show their floor acrobatics to the Belgrade.

The tumblers are flipping, twirling and clambering in a pyramid to give the audience their first taste of 'a wow factor'.

More amazing acrobatics follow, before the cirque's maitresse herself, Germain Delbosque, brings layers of drumming music and rhythm to the show in a way few will have seen before.

Places to go in Coventry and Warwickshire

When the awing feats become overwhelming, Cirque Berserk's 'Moustache Brothers', two clowns hailing from Brazil, bring the slapstick to split your sides.

Leaving the wigs and red noses, these strongmen make every move hilarious.

As a pièce de résistance, Odka the contortionist from Mongolia emerges from a bottle to perform the most impressive trick with a bow and arrow the audience will see.

Whether it be agility, strength, bravery or poise – the circus' performers are talents at the top of their ability.

It is a true variety show to amaze all the family - where else could they see men catapult through the air, fantastic foot juggling and of course the renowned 'Globe of Death', but in an evening at the circus?

Cirque Berserk at the Belgrade, Coventry. Coventry Telegraph reporter John Carlon is pictured with the stars of the Globe of Terror - Lucius, Paula and Maicon.

Generations of performers

In true circus tradition the performers come from many generations of forebears who honed their craft in the travelling fêtes.

Czech knife thrower Toni still uses his grandfather's blades to hurl at a board, just inches from his trusting wife Nicol.

Cirque Berserk at the Belgrade, Coventry. Coventry Telegraph reporter is pictured with Tony, Cirque Berserk's knife thrower.

He told CoventryLive : “I am from a circus family and they all taught me my circus skills.

"My grandfather taught me juggling, then when I was ten years he asked if I wanted to do knife throwing like him.

"So I still use my grandfather's knives. We were travelling every three days.

“Cirque Berserk is something different from other circuses, because we were used to a round ring but now we have a stage, so we have tried new things for the theatre and it looks great!

"Next we are going to Edinburgh for the first time so we are all excited for that.”

Cirque Berserk at the Belgrade, Coventry. Coventry Telegraph reporter John Carlon is pictured with just some of Cirque Berserk's acts.

Motorcyclist Lucius, who rides with his fellow bikers inside of 'the Globe of Death', told CoventryLive: “I have been a stunt rider for 33 years, but the only act that ever took my attention was the Globe of Death – Mr Burton brought the Lucius team to Cirque Berserk, because his mission was to bring the best riders in the world to the circus in the safest way.

“We are all proud to be here together – everyone here has the Berserkus mentality, and we all feel like a family.”

The circus is offering lucky theatre raffle winners the opportunity to brave the Globe of Death.