THE SHOW OF SHOWS AT THE BARBICAN

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always see these freakish images in books or in TV footage that seem other worldly and utterly fascinating. It’s like how was that even allowed…we’re talking about the weird, whacky, wonderful world of the circus. Over at the Barbican they are screening The Show of Shows: 100 Years of Vaudeville, Circuses and Carnivals, which gives an insight to circus acts from early days with footage from the home movies of circus families where director Benedikt Erlingsson chronicles their marvelously outlandish world from the 19th and 20th century.

Full of rare and intriguing footage of fairgrounds, entertainment and various performances there will be things that will no doubt make you laugh, gasp in disbelief and shock you to your bones. For a circus was a scary and dangerous place for a performer…imagine being in a cage with a lion and only separated by a chair. Erm…no thanks.

Interestingly Georg Holm and Orri Pall Dyrason of Sigur Ros, have collaborated on a new instrumental soundtrack which is the music playing out over documentary and will be part of BBC Storyville series which airs in 2016.

Get Tickets
Thurs 16 July 2015, 8:40pm
Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS
www.barbican.org.uk