Gandey World Class Productions

Gandey World Class Productions has celebrated over a century of entertaining audiences with spectacular shows like Gandeys Circus and Cirque Surreal - both currently enjoying runs in Dudley and the intu Trafford Centre respectively until 3rd November. But paving the way for the Gandey success story, for more than four decades Philip Astley managed and performed in the world’s first modern circus. In this week's blog, we find out some interesting facts from Karl Shaw , who lives in Astley's hometown Newcastle-under-Lyme, and is the author of 'The First Showman', set to be published later this month...  An artist's impression of Philip Astley, the founder of modern circus.  Q: Tell us about Astley's claim to fame as the founder of the modern circus and original 'showman'... A: Before the big tops, a hundred years before P.T. Barnum sold a ticket, Philip Astley was the world’s original circus mogul, a natural born showman with an eye for eve...

Today on the Gandeys World Class Productions blog, we're taking the opportunity to celebrate birthday of Andrew Van Buren; performer, showman and member of circus history. To mark this special occasion, we're giving you a further insight into the colourful and remarkable history of British circus! Andrew Van Buren is known for using highly visual circus skills How British circus began English equestrian Philip Astley created performances and tricks surrounding horses based in a 42-foot diameter ring, now the universally known circus ring. Originally from Newcastle-Under-Lyme, his hometown now pays tribute to the circus creator in the form of The Phillip Astley Project  which has educated the public through talks, workshops and exhibitions, on his life and work. Now, you can find bespoke circus-themed sculptures in honour of Philip Astley in his birth town. Gandey's circus director, Carol Gandey, with some of the cast Fred Van Buren Known as an illus...

Hip hip hooray! It’s our crazy clown Andreea’s birthday! The lovable Andreea has been appearing in shows with Gandeys Circus for nearly a decade. Now Andreea is actually French – so perhaps we should say ‘bon anniversaire’! We’re proud to have Andreea as part of our current team in the big top at Butlin’s Skegness . While our other clowns – currently performing at Butlin’s Bognor Regis and Minehead – Bippo and Chico Rico are more traditional, Andreea opts to show off her sense of style with an offbeat modern look. We think her pink tutu / Converse / blazer combo is pretty iconic… especially paired with her blasting boombox! (she’s never been shy of making an entrance). Andreea likes interrupting the action with her silly routines. And you know something else… she is the UK’s only female clown! So you could say she’s a bit of an innovator when it comes to clowning around. With that in mind, let’s look at how much clowns have changed ov...

The unveiling of The UK’s First Permanent Monument to Philip Astley & his legacy of the Circus By Andrew Van Buren Images by Andrew Lewis Thankfully it was a gloriously sunny day for the unveil of the country’s first permanent monument to Newcastle-under-Lyme born Philip Astley, the original Ringmaster & creator of the modern day circus and his legacy. I had been working towards 21st April 2018 for a good many months, wanting to pull together a number of threads to celebrate World Circus Day in Newcastle-under-Lyme and this monument was the icing on the cake. Realise Foundation Charity , which encompasses Aspire Housing and PM Training had agreed to create and house the monument. During several meetings designer Candida Kelsall created the image, which was then built by 17 year old PM Training apprentice Liam Robinson. It was placed on its St George Street (ST5 1JX) site on the boundary of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke on Trent...

It's World Circus Day ! Today, on Saturday 21st April, circuses, circus schools and circus advocates around the globe will be celebrating the arts and culture of circus. As Fédération Mondiale du Cirque aptly put it: "It's a special opportunity to celebrate together, to get more supporters and fans of the art of happiness. Our possibilities are borderless." This is the 9th World Circus Day, and it's the most important one yet... as 2018 is the 250th anniversary of circus! Marking 250 years since Philip Astley , a cavalryman from Newcastle-under-Lyme, pitched the first ever circus on the bank of the River Thames. Gandeys Circus wanted to celebrate World Circus Day with some of the locals in Penrith this week. So we invited the pupils and teachers from Beaconside Primary School to join us in the Big Top for an amazing circus presentation and a thrilling afternoon at the show! It was a union brought about by a charming coincidence, actually....

Today marks the 250th Anniversary of the first modern circus! It also marks the beginning of Circus250 – a year long celebration of circus tradition, history, and Philip Astley; the man who started it all. Philip Astley was a fascinating character. Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, the son of a cabinet maker went on to become a military hero, before utilising his expert equestrian skills and knowledge of trick-riding to set up a revolutionary new show on a cold wintery day in London. That first performance was on 9th January 1768 - exactly 250 years ago today! You can read more about Astley's story in this fantastic article here .  Gandeys Circus is proud to be supporting The Phillip Astley Project. Details of which can be found here . Museums and art galleries are amongst the organisations that will be taking part in Circus250. Not to mention the circuses all over the world that will be celebrating! In the UK, the Six Cities of Circu...

Gandeys Circus is returning to the UK in 2018! With incredible shows at Aintree Racecourse and Knutsford to kick off the tour! It’s being hailed as the biggest and most spectacular circus production the UK has ever seen! GANDEY’S – YOUR CIRCUS is making an eagerly-anticipated return in 2018 with a brand new action-packed, star-studded Big Top show for all the family – and no increase in ticket prices! Gandeys Circus will be smashing expectations and raising the bar sky-high in 2018. The only thing higher, in fact, will be the amazing assemblage of aerial acts that will be soaring above audiences in the roof of the Big Top! There will be thrills aplenty with three world-class aerial talents: Sensational, award-winning high-wire walkers The Gerlings will be forming a human pyramid four-persons high! An act that won medals at both the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo and the Wuqiao International Circus Festival in 2017. The jaw-dropping trapeze...

Andrew Van Buren and Carol Gandey took the stage last night to speak to the Rotary Club about The Philip Astley Project that will be coming to Newcastle-under-Lyme and throughout the UK next year, in what turned out to be a very interesting and entertaining evening.  The Philip Astley Project  was formed in 2015 to celebrate Philip Astley as part of the nationwide Circus250 celebrations that will be taking place next year. 2018 is the 250th anniversary of the modern circus and thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, and sponsorship from businesses, people will be able to get involved in workshops, talks, an exhibition, and performances. Activities began in 2017, leading up to AstleyFest - a one-day festival to celebrate Astley in August 2018. Gandeys Circus is proud to be supporting The Philip Astley Project and working closely with Andrew Van Buren to celebrate the life of this Newcastle-under-Lyme born man known as "the father of modern c...