Circus Cirquoise Proprietors Visit the Philip Astley Centre
We had a visit from the wonderful Cirquoise Directors and production team to the Philip Astley Centre. Thank you for your interest, support and encouragement, it was really lovely to see you all and a pleasure to show you around the Newcastle-under-Lyme Philip Astley Town Trail.
It is heart-warming when people from the circus industry take the time to visit the birthplace of Philip Astley, the military hero, original Ringmaster and Father of Modern Circus.
This is what they had to say about their visit:
This morning we bring a little education about the history of circus. Not many people know this but did you know circus is a British invention. Circus was created 256 years ago in 1768. Here in the UK. It was created by a man called Philip Astley. Philip Astley was born in Newcastle under-Lyme, a carpenters son.
He enlisted under colonel Elliott in the 15th light Dragoons, the first light cavalry regiment of the British army. His military career saw him in active service during the seven’s year war (1756-1763 ) and the French revolutionary wars.
It was his fantastic equestrian skills, he developed during his career in the military, the reason for his huge success as a showman and entrepreneur.
Philip Astley is considered the founder of modern day circus and with his experimentation, Astley discovered a 42ft ring was the ideal diameter for trick riders to make use of centrifugal force to stay on the back of their horses. This 42ft remains the standard size used even today around the world.
Philip Astley then went on to include all types of performers such as jugglers, acrobats and aerial performers, to his show of trick riders, creating what would later become a circus.
This then helped him to create the first of his amphitheatres and it was these amphitheatres and Astley’s promotional skills that captured the public’s imagination. This success later allowed him to travel all of Europe.
Astley’s military uniform influenced circus and still does today, even in the greatest showman movie Hugh Jackman wears a very traditional military / circus style jacket. Astley wore his uniform with pride in all his shows and was the original ringmaster.
We thank major Philip Astley in his efforts serving the country and of course creating this beautiful magical world of circus. A TRULY BRITISH INVENTION
We had the pleasure of visiting the Philip Astely Centre this week, a place where you can learn everything you need to know about the man behind Circus and the evolution of circus to this day.
The Astley Center is a non profit organisation, a wonderful, very visual and interactive place to visit, we highly recommend. They also offer circus workshops. Corporate team building ( there is no better people to teach team building like circus people). Interactive exhibitions. Party packages and lots, lots, more.
To learn more about Philip Astley please visit the links below
The Philip Astley project
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