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International Circus Festival to honour late founder Prince Rainier

Published Wednesday 21 December 2005 at 13:10 by Liz Arratoon

Monaco is gearing up for January’s 30th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival, which will showcase the cream of artists from the circus world, including two British brothers.

In a change to the usual competition format, the event - billed as the ‘golden festival’ - will honour its founder Prince Rainier, who died earlier this year. The performers will be made up entirely of artists who have won the top awards, the coveted Gold, Silver and Bronze Clowns, during previous festivals.

Princess Stephanie has succeeded her father as the event’s president. Speaking exclusively to The Stage, she said: “We had wanted to do this anyway but it’s even more important now as a great gift to my dad.” She is committed to making the festival bigger and better and to maintaining its status as the world’s leading circus event, and adds: “The 31st festival will start again as it was before, with the competition, the prizegiving and the jury. The new developments will come in time but the festival has to go on with what’s going around in circus, keeping traditional circus but seen in a different way.”

Known to have a deep love of the circus, the princess has been vice-president of the jury for 18 years and has attended every festival since 1974, when it was founded by Prince Rainier on the 25th anniversary of his accession to the throne. She says: “At the first festival I was part of the junior jury. I like all the acts but I always enjoy seeing animal acts in the circus because it’s very important. You ask a child what is circus for him, he always says clowns and animals.”

In January, the animal acts will include British animal trainers Martin and Alex Lacey - who won individual Silver Clowns here with their big cats in 2000 and 2003 respectively - presenting lions and tigers. During a press conference at Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum, festival vice-president and artistic director Urz Pilz explained why they were chosen: “It’s very simple. We’re presenting the ‘best of’ and they are the best in their field. Their mother, Susan, also won silver. It’s unique for a family in the same discipline all to be so highly rewarded.”

Alain Frere, circus consultant to the prince for 32 years, added: “They love and respect their animals. That’s what the prince wanted to see. If we want to keep traditional circus, the trainers must respect the animals and the Laceys are a perfect example of that.”

Additionally, there will be elephant acts by Franco Knie and Flavio Togni, horses shown by Alexis and Maud Gruss and Fredy Knie Junior, and the Probsts’ farm animals and baboons.

Highlights among the human acts include Guangdong’s Acrobatic Troupe from China with their exquisite pas de deux, Risley duo the Errani Brothers and the Quiros on highwire - all of whom won gold - and the Velez brothers on the Wheel of Death, who scooped silver.

Surprisingly, no acts from Canada’s Cirque du Soleil are included and despite being announced in the initial line-up, the North Korean Flying Girls on trapeze will not attend after all.

Many special events have been arranged for the celebrations. Some of the international artists - such as jugglers Anthony Gatto and Kris Kremo, and clown David Larible, who will be reunited with his 75-year-old tutor Oleg Popov - will be creating special routines together for the first time, to be showcased at a gala evening on January 24. Other surprises will only be revealed on the night.

A decorative big top and ring, complete with artists and animals, has been constructed out of fairy lights and topiary in Casino Square and there will be a parade of artists and animals through the streets of the principality on January 21.

The 2006 festival will herald the start of a new era with Princess Stephanie in charge. She said: “Circus is very special. It’s in our blood. It’s not something you learn to enjoy. Like everything in life you have that passion or you don’t. You have to be open to accept the magic and have your eyes light up and become a child again.”

But it will also be marked by Prince Rainier’s absence. He will always be revered within the circus world for his great knowledge and love of the artform. This was underlined at this year’s festival when, despite failing health, he made his first public appearance in many months, receiving lengthy and emotional standing ovations.

The festival runs from January 19-27 at the Chapiteau Espace, Fontvieille. Over the years, 910 different acts have been presented, watched by 750,000 people and seen by more than a billion TV viewers. It has been cancelled twice, once in 1982 after the death of Princess Grace and again in 1991 at the outbreak of the Gulf War. In 1986, a storm destroyed the big top and the festival was postponed until February the following year.

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