It was ten years ago that I last went to a circus and took my grandchildren, I think it was a French production with your bog standard circus tent, but no animals. The master of ceremonies never spoke a word he did it all by face and body language and a whistle. One of the most entertaining shows I had seen and I am old enough to remember the circus coming to town - literally - with a parade of elephants, horses, lions and tigers (the latter two in cages) showgirls, trapeze artists, clowns and a ring-master and of Robert Brothers, Chipperfields Circus two name but two.