Controversy as animal circus comes to Formby

Sep 1 2010 by Lyndsay Young, Formby Times

A TRADITIONAL animal circus opens its curtains in Formby this week.

Bobby Roberts Super Circus will put on its new show at Warren Farm Equestrian Centre on Southport Old Road, tomorrow until Sunday.

Inside a new state-of-the-art big top, the two-hour show will see clowns, acrobats, dancers and animals performing.

It opens with Bobo the clown, who has been performing since he was seven and will appear with his seven-year-old son Logan.

In his spare time Bobo holds circus workshops in local schools.

Ringmaster Simon Swash is from a long line of theatrical performers and has been a friend of the Roberts family for many years.

He said: “It’s a great family show. It’s great to see the families having good honest old fashioned fun with a very traditional form of live entertainment.”

Summer Roberts, 17, will appear with her Fallabella ponies and black Arabian stallion. She helps her grandfather Bobby Roberts train and care for the animals.

Stephanie Dalvaine will put on a display of hula hoops as well as acrobatics and dance using the silks.

Bobby will present his new group of exotic animals, which includes a pony, a camel, a highland cow and a mule.

He has been performing since the age of four, has an expertise in presenting animals and has won numerous awards.