A full house joined us at the Philip Astley Centre for our Heritage Open Day talk by showman performer and speaker Andrew Van Buren – “Building the Excitement: Creating the circus”
It was wonderful to see so many new faces discovering the story of circus architecture and the incredible legacy of Philip Astley, the Father of the Modern Circus. The room was filled with curiosity, laughter, and plenty of “wow” moments as Andrew brought history to life in true showman style.
Alongside the engaging history of these amazing buildings the talk featured building plans, film footage, photographs, sketches and art all showing the similarities and diversity of circus buildings, from here in the UK to Moscow, Germany, France, Scandinavia and
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along, asked questions, and shared the experience with us – your support means the world. 
Philip Astley Centre, 25 Merrial St, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newcastle ST5 2AE.
For more information about the Philip Astley Projects www.philipastley.org.uk
For more information about Andrew Van Buren’s talks, lectures and personal appearances www.vanburen.org.uk
