Running away with the circus may be a flight of fancy to joke about. But for Nell Gifford, creative genius behind Giffords Circus, it’s a dream come true.
Nell realised that it was a circus life for her in her teens when she famously ran away from home to join a circus in America. By her early twenties, she and husband Toti, had founded, and were directing, a successful vintage-style circus, complete with a catering wagon and professional chef.
16 years on, and now with their six-year-old-twins Red and Cecil in tow, Giffords Circus is famously known as the West’s most magical travelling circus, wowing audiences of thousands across Gloucestershire and Wiltshire every year in the UK. We caught up with the high flying circus queen to find out more about her life as a ring-mistress. ~ Rachel
Nell Gifford. Photo by Gem Hall
1. When did you get the circus bug?
When I was 18, during my gap year before starting at Oxford University. My family doesn’t have a circus background but my brother knew someone at Circus Flora in America and I spent a month travelling across New York State, painting the lorries and riding a horse in the parade. I came home to get my English degree but once I graduated I found work with the Chinese State Circus selling ice creams and riding elephants. I saw a happy place where children and animals played together in the sunshine, and the workplace was a huge, candy-striped tent, full of music. It reminded me so much of my younger years. And that was it. I had the circus bug.
Toti with dalmations, Domino and Tarquin, who we trained for 2014’s show: The Thunders. Photo by Matilda Temperley
2. How did Giffords Circus come about?
My husband Toti and I began Giffords Circus in 2000. Toti is the son of a farmer and grew up on the Cotswold hills. I grew up in Oxford and when I left New College Oxford I had a dream, remembered from childhood, of starting my own circus.
Together we have realized this dream. We bought a round white tent from the Trade It newspaper. We built a maroon and gold showman’s wagon to live in. We advertised for performers in The Stage newspaper and held auditions in a little dusty theatre in Cheltenham. These were our first baby steps, and since then we have taken a new show out on the roads of England every summer.
I’m doing what I love by accepting no discouragement.
3. What was your vision the circus?
Our vision was a miniature village green circus, with ponies and candlelight, bursting at the seams, packed, rowdy, tiny, a little band of performers who live nomadically, performing daily, engrossed in the serious business of making magic.
Giffords Circus company group shot from 2015’s tour ‘Moon Songs’. Photo by Andrew Rees
4. How has Giffords Circus evolved over the years ?
Since that start in 2000 we have entertained over 650,000 people, and have worked with some extraordinary circus performers and creative: the mercurial comic genius Tweedy; Attila, a Hungarian horseman from the Great Hungarian Plane; Gabor Vosteen who played Mozart on five recorders, three in his mouth, one in each nostril; Molly Molloy, the choreographer who redefines Burlesque; eccentric dancer Barry Grantham.
Toti and I have travelled to Paris, Moscow, rural Hungary, Romania and beyond in search of talent and in search of people who are prepared to give up their own life temporarily and throw their lot in with ours and bring their mastery of a certain skill to our show.
From this year’s show: The Painted Wagon. Photo by Andrew Rees
5. What makes Giffords Circus so unique?
Our costumes are handmade. Our animals are trained by us. Our sets are painted in the barns on our farm. We burn the midnight oil to conjure new visions for the show. It’s all we do. Circus is our job, our life, our love.
Shadow play with our twins, Red and Cecil
6. Giffords Circus is a family affair. Who is involved and what roles do you all play?
The juggler is in charge of the tour. A small black Cairn terrier is in charge of the office. A long distance runner is my right hand. The clown is my confident. And a team of Romanian magicians put the tent up.
Tweedy the clown. Photo by Gem Hall
Gypsy violinists, tap dancers, tight-rope walkers, trapeze artistes, stunt riders, opera singers, magicians, illusionists, gymnasts – all have inhabited Giffords Circus, and travelled with us, stopping to camp on village greens and throw open our doors to the rural families, farmers, weekenders, tourists, filmstars, rockstars, artists, pensioners, shop keepers, school children who so love our show and who make up our audience.
7. What are the most magical bits about running the show, and what parts do you find most stressful?
I love my team. I hate it when new recruits disappoint.
8. What does being creative mean to you?
Living in the present and constantly searching. Being open and alive.
9. What is it about living nomadically that you and Toti love so much?
The chats, the gossip, the public, the music, the tent at night.
11. Talk us through a day in your life on the road…
You spend the day in costume, and pyjamas. Nothing in between.
12. What inspired the story for this year’s show, The Painted Wagon, and what can people expect from it?
The Painted Wagon is a kooky, strange Wild West extravaganza – a story of travel and settlement. It came from me and our brilliant comedy director Cal McCrystal – a naughty and uncompromising maverick whose credits include the animated film of Michael Bond’s Paddington Bear stories and the National Theatre’s hit production, One Man Two Guvnors.
Cal McCrystal (R) with performers of this year’s tour, The Painted Wagon. Each year Cal leads the company through a three-week rehearsal period at our farm in the Cotswolds, UK. Photo by Andrew Rees
Dan Fortt in The Painted Wagon. Photo by Andrew Rees
13. We were sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with breast cancer last year. How has the diagnosis changed you, and altered your perspective on life?
It has changed everything. I am learning to live with fear.
Toti and I grew up riding horses and they are at the hurt of Giffords Circus. They inspire each new show and our shows revolve around them.
14. What’s next for you personally, and for Giffords Circus?
A new tent. A recovery. A new show. A clearer head.
15. What advice would you give anyone who isn’t doing what they love?
With a sense of mischief, tell yourself your own wildest fantasy picture of yourself and without fail you’ll give yourself the armour.
Me with Jim, a Friesian Stallion whose full name is Tsijimke. He’s a true showman.
The Painted Wagon is touring Gloucestershire, UK until September 25, 2016. For more information about Nell and the show, or to book tickets, visit the Giffords Circus website.
