Page 78 - On Screen Leaflet

Picture a night at the circus … the bright lights of the big top teeming with
leaping trapeze artists and madcap clowns. It’s a spectacle that has been
thrilling audiences for centuries; historians say the tradition goes as
far back as Ancient Rome! But what is life like under the big top?
We’ve asked travelling circus performer Kitty Wonder to give us a
privileged peek through the curtains …
Some people dream of running away to join the
circus, but not me: I was born into it. Just like my Ma and
Pa, I’ve been performing as a circus artiste since the time I
learned to walk! The circus is not just our family trade, it’s
our passion. I grew up immersed in circus culture, thrilled
by the stories of my outrageous tightrope walking
Grandmother! Life on the open road is not always a
breeze; in fact it can be exhausting, but I love the freedom
it brings. After all, it’s a golden opportunity to see the
world! And better still, it gives me the chance to share
my travelling life with a band of extraordinary
performers.
We are not a huge circus and all of the performers
also work behind the scenes to keep things running
smoothly. For example, you might find the star of the flying
trapeze scattering sawdust on the circus floor or the strong
man sewing sequins onto sparkly stage costumes. Indeed,
bright, colourful costumes are vital in a circus, although
mine is very simple. I’m a mime artist so, following mime
tradition, I dress from head to toe in plain black. But I do
paint my face with heavy white make-up, and colour my
cheeks and lips a bright cherry red. The look is finally
complete when I put on my big curly wig and little top hat.
My character is playful, sometimes clumsy, but always
extremely mischievous! I never fail to cause a big
commotion and have lots of fun doing it! There are also
traditional clowns in the show, as well as flying trapeze
artists, acrobats, tightrope walkers, fire-breathers and
sword-swallowers. We even have a human cannon ball!
Going from town to town and from city to city so fast
– often staying for only a night – it can all become a bit of a
blur sometimes. The hours leading up to a show are very
intense and action-packed and I often lose track of time
and hardly remember who I am and what I’m doing!
There’s an epic list of things to do: we have to set up the
big top tent, check the
climbing apparatus and safety
net, test the lights and sound
system, and, of course, rehearse
our routines and stunts to keep
them fresh and exciting for the
public.
The moments spent waiting in the
wings before going out to face the crowd are
always nerve-wracking; I’d say it’s my least
favourite part of the day! It’s a kind of 'stage
fright'; however, I don’t get it as badly as some
who’ve joined our show. I remember the Great
Sebastian, who suffered terribly from the shakes;
never a good idea when you’re walking a tightrope
some fifteen metres high in the air! Still, I’ve never been
able to completely relax before a performance. But then
again, I would be concerned if I ever became too relaxed as
I have to be to give my best each time. Then, when the
moment arrives, and I step out in front of the bright lights
and applause, I get a feeling of excitement like nothing else
in the world. I can honestly say it’s when I feel most alive.
The show usually ends around 11pm, and by
midnight, after every performance, the entire company sits
down to eat under the stars; it’s our chance to chat about
the highs and lows of the show as well as a way to wind
down after all the frenetic activity. The performances are so
physically and emotionally demanding that having this time
to come back down to earth - sometimes literally! - is
absolutely essential. If ever I have a particularly exhausting
or trying day, I always remind myself how lucky I am to be
living this way. For me, the circus will always be more than
just a job; people come to the circus to see magic and
dreams come to life and I’m so happy to help make this
happen.
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Multiple choice
Quickly read the text to get the gist. Read the
questions and possible answers and find the
key words. Read the text again and identify
the part that contains the answer to each
question. Try to find words/phrases
synonymous to the key words in the questions
and answers. This will help you do the task.
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Reading 1a