Three questions for Dr Alain Frère, Technical Advisor for the International Circus Festival:

au Docteur Alain Frère, Conseiller technique du Festival International du Cirque ©Charly Gallo Centre de Presse

Why did Prince Rainier III decide to create an International Festival in Monaco that you have been involved with since the first edition?

Prince Rainier III had always been passionate about the circus. He loved hosting all the great French circuses in the Principality and with Princess Grace he always made a point of bringing his three children to the show. In the seventies, he was very moved to hear about the serious financial problems that some circuses were having. Prince Rainier III expressed his wish to create an event in the Principality that would celebrate the circus, and so it was in the 25^th year of his reign that he founded the circus festival. In the introduction to the first programme in 1974 he said: “This International Circus Festival has been created with the circus world in mind, this unappreciated family, so that you the audience, mindful of all their efforts and hard work, will come to know and love them more and wish to celebrate them.”

What major changes have you been involved with over the years?

Of all the types of spectacles on offer, the circus is one that has evolved the most. Today it is a temple of unimaginable feats, as former artistic and rhythmic gymnast champions retrain for the circus. For example, Anna Rodion, the former Belarussian European Champion was the first ever to perform the perilous quadruple somersault on the bar at the 29^th Festival in 2005, for which she won a Gold Clown. The circus world also boasts some of the finest directors who are behind very original choreography. For example, at the 38^th Festival the talented Russian director Alexandre Grimaïlo conceived a superb tableau entitled Amadeus in honour of Mozart, performed by the Sokolov Troup which won the Gold Clown, so the circus became opera!

What are the highlights for this 40^thFestival?

As requested by the Festival’s President, HSH Princess Stéphanie, there are several highlights for the Festival’s 40^thanniversary. So for example, three of the great wild cat trainers who have won a Gold Clown -  the Russian Nicolaï Pavlenko, the Italian Massimiliano Nones and Englishman Martin Lacey - will be together in the same cage to work with 11 lionesses, six of which are white, and the imposing male lion Kassenga. A unique feat in the history of the circus. Then we have two of the great horsemen of this era, Frenchman Alexis Gruss and the Italian Flavio Togni coming together with their magnificent troops of horses, 40 from different breeds, for the grand finale at the gala performance on Tuesday 20^th January. And then of course we have the Grand Parade that will leave from the big tent in Fontvieille to go to the square in front of the palace at 2.30pm.