Roll Up, Roll Up! Giffords Circus Turns 25 with the Joyfully Retro 'Laguna Bay' in 2025

The big top!

If there’s one thing that never fails to lift the spirits, it’s a visit to Giffords Circus. There’s something about their hand-painted wagons, that big tent, and the glamourous ushers that brings a tingle of childlike anticipation. This year, they’re marking a major milestone—25 years since Nell Gifford’s dream first rolled onto the village greens of the Cotswolds. And to celebrate, they’ve gone full technicolour nostalgia with Laguna Bay—a whip-smart, big-hearted love letter to 1950s America. Think jukebox anthems, sun-faded boardwalks, greased-up hair, and the kind of circus chutzpah you’ll be talking about all summer.

Gifford's Circus is Directed by the King of Controlled Chaos

At the helm again is comedy director Cal McCrystal—he of Paddington and One Man, Two Guvnors fame—who brings his usual cocktail of physical hilarity and theatrical mischief. He’s been crafting the Giffords shows since 2012, and here he’s conjured up a dreamy seaside town somewhere between Grease, West Side Story, and a Looney Tunes short. There’s no ringmaster bellowing into a megaphone this time around. Instead, singer Mikey Fletcher guides us through the spectacle like a jukebox emcee with a wink and a warm smile.

Family Flying High

One of the absolute highlights of the night is a laugh-out-loud aerial plane act—equal parts daredevil and silent film farce—performed by Pablo and Vickki Garcia. It’s gloriously chaotic and oddly romantic, like watching a vintage aviation reel unravel into slapstick. They just happen to be the parents of the impossibly agile Garcia Brothers, Antonio and Connor, who perform a handstand act that made me gasp out loud (and I’m usually very composed when upside-down acrobatics are involved).

Hair-Raising Elegance

Imagine taking the weight of another person via your hair - ouch!

Speaking of soaring, prepare to hold your breath for Daniela Munoz Landestoy and Vivien Noémi Novakovics—two performers who hang above the ring suspended only by their hair. No wires, no mats, just incredible strength, technique and trust. There’s something both fierce and tender about their act; it’s one of those rare moments where the tent goes completely still, apart from the occasional whisper of disbelief.

Clowning Around—and the Art of the Egg

Of course, no trip to Giffords is complete without Tweedy the Clown, back after a brief hiatus and as gloriously chaotic as ever. Whether he’s being soaked, stacked, or tripped up, he moves with the agility of someone half his age. His comic timing is peerless, and his rapport with the audience is instant and electric. Giffords has always celebrated clowning—not just the ha-ha funny bits, but the tradition and dignity behind the slapstick.

Once I'd started googling the Clown Register it led to all sort of discoveries!

For those unfamiliar, each professional clown must register their makeup design on an actual egg, painted with precision to preserve their unique look and name. It’s a charming (and rather bonkers) system — part protection, part pride, all tradition. More information here.

There was a lot of sloshing going on!

This year’s show leans into the joy of “slosh”—circus-speak for routines that involve as much mess as mirth. Buckets of water, collapsing props, improbable mishaps… it’s sheer comic alchemy in Tweedy’s hands.

A Cast of Wonders

There’s real international sparkle in the cast this year. Magician Maximiliano Stia, back again after his turn as Merlin last year, conjures pure delight. He once toured with Clowns Without Borders, bringing magic to children in conflict zones—something about that warmth comes through in every trick.

Also returning are Spanish clown duo The Rivelinos, a multigenerational act whose timing and chemistry add an easy comic rhythm to the evening.

The Ethio-Salem Troupe in action

The Ethio-Salem Troupe from Addis Ababa—last seen at Giffords in Les Enfants du Paradis—bring a hoop-diving act with so much pace and flair you barely have time to applaud before they’re off again. It’s gymnastic poetry in motion.

All done without a safety net or mats

Randy Forgione Vega, with his aerial strap work, is the kind of performer that makes everyone in the tent quietly re-evaluate their own core strength. And singer Nell O’Hara, now on her third Giffords tour, threads it all together with her dreamy, dusky vocals.

Four Legs and a Wagging Tail

Emma with one of the beautiful ponies

Emma Tytherleigh, who leads the animal segment, brings a small but utterly charming menagerie to the ring. Her horses, ponies and one very enthusiastic dog named Cowboy deliver a sweet, paced interlude that never feels overdone or tokenistic. There’s a quiet care to her act—you can see it in the way the animals respond, alert and happy, eager for their next cue (and treat). It’s a world away from the outdated image of circus animals, and all the more joyful for it.

Post-Show Supper? Yes, Please

And if you’re after an encore of the culinary kind, Circus Sauce—the traveling restaurant that follows the troupe—serves a three-course meal under canvas. Think local produce, open fires, and an atmosphere somewhere between rural dinner party and theatrical afterglow. My companion had eaten here after last year's show and said that the cooking was excellent. Book in advance if you can; it’s a highlight in itself.

So, should you go?

Absolutely. Whether it’s your first visit or a repeat, Laguna Bay is a blissful few hours away from the ordinary. It’s equal parts sun-drenched musical, gravity-defying spectacle, and perfectly pitched nostalgia. Giffords may be 25, but the magic’s as fresh as ever. If this is what a quarter-century celebration looks like, count me in for the next one.

👉 Laguna Bay tours the Cotswolds and southern England from April through September 2025. Tickets and info at www.giffordscircus.com.

Chiswick House and Gardens London 5th - 9th, 12th - 16th, 19th - 22nd June

Evenley Wood Garden Evenley, Northamptonshire 26th - 30th June, 3rd - 7th July

Stonor Park and Gardens Stonor, Oxfordshire 10th - 14th July

Barrington near Burford, Oxfordshire 17th - 21st, 24th - 28th July

Frampton Court Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire 31st July - 4th August Minchinhampton Common Stroud, Gloucestershire 7th - 12th August, 14th - 18th August Marlborough Common Marlborough, Wiltshire 21st - 25th, 28th August - 1st September Statton Meadows Cirencester, Gloucestershire 4th- 8th, 11th - 15th September

Fennells Farm Stroud, Gloucestershire 18th - 22nd, 25th - 28th September