The Stage

Irish circuses under threat as labour costs rise

Published Thursday 7 September 2006 at 17:05 by Michael Quinn

Circuses in the Republic of Ireland are in a state of crisis and may be forced to close if additional arts council funding cannot be secured, the managing director of the country’s oldest travelling circus has warned.

Charles O’Brien of Fossett’s Circus, which has been touring since 1888 and is the self-styled ‘National Circus of Ireland’, says that a lack of state support for the country’s five surviving circuses means the under-resourced industry may be forced to close within five years.

Irish circuses received government funding for the first time this year, sharing €130,000 (£88,000) between them, with Fossett’s getting the lion’s share of €40,000 (£27,000).

The introduction of the minimum wage and high fees paid by subsidised European circuses have inflated labour costs in the industry, with traditional circus acts like jugglers paid up to €300 (£205) per day and elephant handlers up to €600 (£407).

O’Brien said: “There is a high level of cultural elitism in the government. The circus industry is not going to accept anything other than a significant increase in funding. We are looking for amounts commensurate with the level of touring and the level of theatre that we do.”

The warning comes within days of the death of a Belarussian trapeze artist at a performance by the Royal Russian Circus in Scariff, Co. Clare. Vitaly Kharapavitski died and his wife’s arm was broken when a safety line snapped, causing a steel ball and metal cage to collapse on him. The accident is currently being investigated by the Irish Health and Safety Authority.