Roll up, roll up! The search is on to find a young ringmaster to join a very special circus show.
In this 250th anniversary year for circus, Norwich's The Garage has joined forces with All-In Productions and Lost in Translation to create My First Circus: The Circus Child, an interactive show especially for young children and their families.
And now they are looking for a child to take on the role of the ringmaster and record an introduction that will welcome audiences to the show from July 26 to 29.
To find the perfect ringmaster The My First Circus team is asking youngsters to show off their creative skills in a competition to colour in a picture of a unicycling juggler.
Director Daniel Burgess said 'We want to see bright, colourful and vibrant drawings that capture all the spirit and fun of the circus.
'The prize of being part of the show will give the winner the opportunity to the join the My First Circus Team and be immortalised forever in this piece of theatrical history. Never before has there been an interactive circus for young children...and you could be part of it. So get drawing!'
The competition is open to children aged two to five of all abilities.
Adam Taylor, The Garage's executive director, said: 'I can't wait to see the best 'Roll Up Roll Up! Come and see My First Circus' done by the winner, be it spoken, signed or captioned.'
The Garage and All-In Productions are also the team behind the My First Pantos of Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood and they are creating their first circus show to mark this landmark anniversary year for circus and the fact that Norwich has been picked to be one of the key cities for the Circus250 celebrations.
With the help of Lost In Translation Circus, they are creating a special introduction to the magic of the big top which will see the young audience members become part of the show and have a go at juggling and other tricks.
• The colouring competition for two to five-year-olds to win the chance to be the ringmaster's voice will run until June 18 at 5pm. The prize will also include a family ticket to the show and free classes at The Garage. Entries should be created on the unicycling juggler template that can be downloaded at www.thegarage.org.uk or picked up from The Garage, in Chapel Field North, Norwich.
Entries should be sent to Colouring Competition, The Garage, 14 Chapel Field North, Norwich, NR2 1NY.
Top tips for budding young ringmasters
My First Circus' Ringmaster Scooby is leading the search for a young ringmaster to follow in his footsteps in the show The Circus Child.
Here he shares his top five tips for budding ringmasters:
1. Be yourself, embrace your eccentricities and put them into your performance
2. Be confident in yourself, there is only one you.
3. Connect with your audience and let them get to see your personality.
4. Play to your strengths. Find ways to showcase your talent, and do the things you are best at.
5. Most important tip of all, have FUN!
My First Circus: The Circus Child will run from July 26 to 29. Tickets £12.50 for adults and £7.50 for childrens. Under ones go free.
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.thegarage.org.uk or call 01603 598646.
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