42nd International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo - From the 18th to the 28th January 2018 - Press Release n° 1
250 years ago modern circus was born!
250 years ago, in 1768, a young equestrian named Philip Astley performed in London, in a field near Westminster Bridge, on a circular ring 13 metres in diameter, an equestrian show mixed with acts from the fair: jugglers, equilibrists, funambulists and even trained animals (dogs and monkeys). Modern circus was born … on horseback!
The musical atmosphere was provided by a bagpipe orchestra with Mrs Astley on the drum.
With bad weather approaching, Philip Astley mixed wood chippings with the earth in the ring, which gave it that familiar colour that it still maintains today.
Philip Astley, the inventor of modern circus as well as the ring which we all know, quickly crossed the Channel, as he was invited to perform in France by King Louis XVI.
To pay tribute to Philip Astley, H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie, President of the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo Organising Committee, invited to the famous Fontvieille ring the best "Equestrian Pas de Deux" in the history of modern circus, featuring Jozsef Richter Junior and his young wife Merrylu.
One of the greatest and most astonishing moments in this act is the balancing of Merrylu on the head of her husband, as he stands on two horses circling the ring.
Whilst the Monte-Carlo Circus Festival wishes to highlight traditional circus, it is also a place for creation and innovation. The Organising Committee invited the Simet trio to the festival with their "Astronauts" act: the three Hungarian artistes perform incredible balancing acts on their gigantic moving "arc". This gravity-defying aerial act is sure to please the audience!
Autres actualités du thème
![Inauguration de la sculpture architecturale Régulus © Direction de la Communication - Manuel Vitali - Autour de S.A.R. la Princesse de Hanovre (de gauche à droite) : Björn Dahlström, Directeur du NMNM ; Guillaume Aubry, créateur de la sculpture Regulus ; Andréa Casiraghi ; Patrice Cellario, Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre de l’Intérieur ; Françoise Gamerdinger, Directeur des Affaires Culturelles de Monaco ; Benjamin Laugier, responsable des publics au NMNM et curateur du projet. © Direction de la Communication- Manuel Vitali Inauguration de la sculpture architecturale Régulus © Direction de la Communication - Manuel Vitali - Autour de S.A.R. la Princesse de Hanovre (de gauche à droite) : Björn Dahlström, Directeur du NMNM ; Guillaume Aubry, créateur de la sculpture Regulus ; Andréa Casiraghi ; Patrice Cellario, Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre de l’Intérieur ; Françoise Gamerdinger, Directeur des Affaires Culturelles de Monaco ; Benjamin Laugier, responsable des publics au NMNM et curateur du projet. © Direction de la Communication- Manuel Vitali](/var/monaco/storage/images/media/presse/images-et-galeries/inauguration-de-la-sculpture-architecturale-regulus-c-direction-de-la-communication-manuel-vitali/6021845-1-fre-FR/Inauguration-de-la-sculpture-architecturale-Regulus-C-Direction-de-la-Communication-Manuel-Vitali_otherNews.jpg)
Guillaume Aubrey’s architectural sculpture Regulus inaugurated at Villa Paloma
![Roger Capron Salines - H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover surrounded by Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, Françoise Gamerdinger, Director of Cultural Affairs of Monaco, Björn Dahlström, Director of the NMNM, and Philippe Capron, Roger’s son. © Government Communication Department – Manuel Vitali Roger Capron Salines - H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover surrounded by Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, Françoise Gamerdinger, Director of Cultural Affairs of Monaco, Björn Dahlström, Director of the NMNM, and Philippe Capron, Roger’s son. © Government Communication Department – Manuel Vitali](/var/monaco/storage/images/media/presse/images-et-galeries/roger-capron-salines/6021777-1-fre-FR/Roger-Capron-Salines_otherNews.jpg)