Roll up! Roll up! for our Circus 1903 review...

Roll up and enjoy the best circus in town!

But this circus isn’t in a tent – it’s actually Birmingham Hippodrome, which welcomes Circus 1903 this half term.

The show, which starts its UK tour in Birmingham, is a lively line-up of renowned international circus acts, from acrobats to a juggler and contortionist. The Ringmaster brilliantly holds the show together with magic tricks, comedy and a few audience appearances.

Two stars of Circus 1903 are Queenie and Peanut the elephants, life-sized puppets from the same team behind War Horse.

As its name describes, the show celebrates a bygone age of circus acts that would have amazed audiences in the early 20th century – and continue to do so today.

At the Hippodrome until 2 November, Circus 1903 is a great way to entertain the kids during half term, with children invited on stage to join the show with the Ringmaster himself.

Circus 1903 is also helping to celebrate the 120th birthday of the Hippodrome, which started life as a circus in Birmingham.

The venue is also commemorating this milestone with a new sculpture called The Tower of Varieties by the artist Rachael Champion. You can see the sculpture cascading from the ceiling of the foyer, with 12 layers resembling different parts of the city and representing each decade of Birmingham Hippodrome.