The Stage

Circuses fight Licensing Act clause

Published Tuesday 20 April 2004 at 10:50

Politicians have joined with circus performers across the UK to fight against a clause in the new Licensing Act which they claim threatens the survival of travelling companies.

Peter Luff, MP for Mid Worcester, and Julie Kirkbride, the shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport, have met with with members of the Circus Arts Forum at Westminster in an attempt to persuade the government that the new legislation could have a devastating impact on the industry.

Under the Licensing Act 2003 travelling companies will have to apply for a special 12 month public entertainment permit for every venue they intend to visit - in many cases a field or patch of common ground - to be able to perform there. For some circuses this could mean applying for up to 60 licences a year, each costing as much as £500.

There are approximately 34 troupes in Britain at present, however experts believe this number will fall to just three within the year as a result of the new legislation, which will be introduced early in 2005.

Luff said: “By forcing each travelling company to obtain a separate permit for every venue it visits, the government is imposing a huge administrative burden and large costs. The Royal Opera House will apply once, but circuses will have to do so more than 40 times a year and pay £500 each time.

“What is worse, by removing the flexibility that they need to change venues, for example in the event of bad weather or loss of audience because another circus has recently visited the same area, the sector could face another fatal blow. At present the government is claiming there is no problem, but there is and it must act to lighten the burdens faced by circuses.”

Home Office civil servants, who were originally in charge of steering the new legislation through Parliament, had previously agreed to pleas from the industry to maintain the traditional public entertainment licence exclusion for travelling companies.

But when responsibility for the parliamentary bill was transferred to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport it omitted to ensure the necessary alterations to the bill were made.

Verena Cornwall, chair of the Circus Arts Forum, said: “I am extremely concerned by the way the government has handled the issue of circus within the context of this act. No consultation with the sector has taken place, subsequently the act is unworkable and riddled with inconsistencies.”