Circus Mondao returns with a charitable twist after five difficult months in lockdown

But all has not been well for the circus during the five months of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As savings dwindled, many of its classic acts were forced to turn to food banks to survive.

Circus owner Petra Jackson explained: "There was talk of business grants, but because we don't have a business premises due to being on tour we didn't qualify. Grants for the arts were mainly to keep buildings going, such as the Grand Opera House.

"Our international performers are here on Visas, and part of that Visa means they have no access to public funds and can't take jobs outside of the entertainment sector.

"These are acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers and clowns. All around us were farms and factories. These guys were willing to work, but they couldn't without breaking their Visas. If they did and got caught, they would get kicked out of the country and wouldn't be able to come back for five or ten years.

"Without food banks we couldn't have survived. It's not until you actually have to use a food bank that you realise how valuable they are."

To say thank you to the services that sustained them throughout the difficult months, Circus Mondao is starting its own food bank collection.

People who attend a performance can bring along tinned food, toiletries and other non-perishable goods which will then be donated to local charities.

Petra said: "None of us thought the lockdown would go on this long. Our international performers couldn't go home because borders were closed, and they didn't have the money.

"When people asked about the entertainment industry they talked about theatres and shows, but not the circus. It was like we had been completely forgotten about."

On July 7, Circus Mondao and other acts from some of the UK's top circuses rallied in London to deliver a letter to Downing Street begging for help.

A £1.57bn support package for arts venues, including theatres, galleries and museums, had been announced by the government - but no provision had been made for circuses.

The lack of income, Petra said, made returning to the stage difficult.

"We have been touring on the land off Amounderness Way for ten years now and normally we would have to pay the rent up-front, but luckily the landowner knows us and has agreed to let us pay later," she said. "They company that prints our posters agreed to print them for free. Without them we wouldn't be able to go forward.

"People do want to get back to normal. They have spent four months stuck inside doing nothing and they do want to come out again and come to the circus.

"This virus is going to be with us for a while, maybe forever, so we have got to learn to live with it."

New safety measures have been put in place at the circus, including increased break times between performances so that the tent can be cleaned.

Petra said: "This will be our first performance since lockdown and we have had lots of interest. I think we have got to be optimistic. The team is dying to get back to work - performing is their life. It's unusual for them to not be doing it. They have been doing acrobatics on the beach because they just want to get back to doing what they love.

"For us, the circus isn't just a job, it's a way of life. We are used to travelling every week to a different town, meeting different people. Five months stuck in one place has been very difficult. We can't wait to welcome everyone back to the circus."

Circus Mondao's Summer Special performance will take place on Norcross Lane, off Amounderness Way, from tomorrow, August 6, until September 6, with performances taking place every day except Mondays.

Seats cost £6.50 each. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket office onsite.

All food bank donations will be passed on to Men's Shed Fleetwood and Fleetwood Together.