Nothing says festival more than a good dose of circus acts, so it’s right and fitting that the first day of Watford Live! should feature tumblers and clowns in a brand new theatre show by Hemel writer James McAuley majestically titled The Hypnoscopic Wonderments of Billy Blister’s Circus Menagerie.

Following the sell-out success of SUBTOPIA in 2007, local arts collective Inspiral Arts return to the Palace Theatre on Saturday, June 6, with Billy Blister’s circus show set to music by The Turner Brothers.

Overseeing proceedings, Harrow-born director Nick Hall has assembled a cast of over 30 local actors, dancers from Uxbridge based dance school The Movement Academy and the talented Infinite Circus.

He says: “The circus is held to be the best in the land, but it turns out the ringmaster is hypnotising audiences – and then he’s challenged both by his old ex-partner and an enthuasist who wants to break into circus.”

Nick, who trained in performance, musical theatre and dance at the Arts Educational School Chiswick, says the show is a mix of circus skills, straight acting, clowning and physical dexterity.

“The show features a set of monkeys, a pair of elephants and some extremely camp lions, a human cannoball that never get’s fired and the world’s worst escape artist. “It’s a lighthearted show with lots of colour and beautiful costumes donated from Masquerade.

“There are no high wire acts but lots of traditional big top skills such as diabolo and jugglers, plus events in the foyer.”

The Hypnoscopic Wonderments of Billy Blister’s Circus Menagerie comes to Watford Palace Theatre on Saturday, June 6 at 8pm. Tickets: 01923 225671 (£7.50)