Roll up, roll up for dance show inspired by the magic of circus

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of circus, students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be taking to the Norwich Theatre Royal stage on Sunday with their show Grand Central Circus.

Ballet, modern, tap and jazz numbers will share the stage with circus tricks galore in the show which features about 170 young performers, including members of Central's very own circus troupe, alongside a group of adult dancers who will be joining in the fun for one of the ballet sequences.

Fern Carpenter, who runs Central with her husband Adam, said: 'The show follows the life of Philip Astley , who is the man who created modern circus as we know it. It is set in the 18th century and we see the spectacular rise of Philip Astley from the son of a cabinet maker to a ringmaster. The show contains all of the marvellous circus traditions, told through dance, drama, song and circus.

'The first act is the story and the second is a show within a show.'

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Grand Central Circus is at the Theatre Royal on Sunday at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets £10-£18.50. To book, visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call 01603 630000.

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)

Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts will be performing Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal on July 15.Photo: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: supplied by Fern Carpenter/Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts)