The magnificent Moscow Grand Circus

Phillip Gandey was just 17 when he became a circus director. Of course, it helped that his father and his grandfather ran circus productions so he could learn all the tricks of the trade from them. “I grew up quite literally around the spectacle of the circus,’’ he says.

“At 17, I became the youngest circus director in Europe,’’ adds Phillip, now 57, who sharpened his skills in the family circus tent where at 11 he was a knife thrower. “That was my most memorable experience.’’

Phillip admits the circus has changed over the years. “One of the main differences between now and, say, the circus of the 50s and 60s is the absence of animals in acts these days.

“When I first started, animals were a huge part of the circus performance. But now for many reasons they have been phased out and so the circus has returned to what it was before the animals were introduced. It’s almost done a full circle, and while there was always something amazing about the animals, the circus continues to entertain and excite people of all ages, just as it used to.’’

In an exclusive interview with Friday, Phillip, whose Gandey World Class Productions’ Moscow Grand Circus is on at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, speaks about the circus and what it takes to put a show together. The show ends tomorrow, so roll up! Roll up!

It’s about investment. The circus in those two countries is considered the third art – the other two being ballet and opera – and it is something that is invested in heavily in both countries. In Russia and most of the former Soviet countries, these arts offer opportunity and direction to young people and for that reason the level of training and exposure to performing arts makes the artists so much more skilled and refined. China and Russia are without doubt the two best countries in the world for circus performers – and the Moscow Grand Circus will be a strong reflection of that. Nowhere else in the world does it like they do.

I’ve been bringing shows to the Middle East for 15 years and I’ve come to understand what this region likes and dislikes about the circus. It’s about high tempo with plenty of energy and with a good comedy flavour. To take this show to the next level we have focused on a performance that offers all of those things.

Your favourite part of a circus performance...

I love it all but if you made me choose I’d say the trapeze – and we have a fabulous trapeze artist lined up. The audience loves the sense of danger and anticipation and is in awe of the skill. The other one would be the strongman, which I also love. Our strongman’s signature move involves members of the audience in a truck driving over him as he lies on the floor.

Why did you decide to debut the show here?

The appetite for a show that combines traditional, classical circus with a more contemporary feel is very high in this part of the world, and I feel passionate about bringing a performance like this to Abu Dhabi. The other factor is the quality of facilities. The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is truly world-class and we have a host with the capabilities to make this event a real spectacle.

Where next for the Moscow Grand Circus?

We are very hopeful we can take this circus to London in the spring of next year, following the debut in Abu Dhabi. 

● Tomorrow’s shows are at 11am and 3.30pm. Tickets start at Dh150; www.boxofficeme.com