The Great Yarmouth Hippodrome is Britain’s only surviving TOTAL Circus building that is still in use as a circus to this day. Built in 1903 by circus showman George Gilbert. Throughout the century the intimate arena has played host to an incredible variety of entertainment, from amazing water spectacles and stage shows to cinema and cine variety and even wartime use as a military practice shooting range! Apart from always presenting the very best in circus, Lloyd George held political rallies here. Lillie Langtry sang, Little Tich clowned, Max Miller joked, Houdini escaped, the world’s finest clowns and circus personalities experienced the Hippodrome’s unique atmosphere. It’s likely that even Charlie Chaplin performed here as a child actor before finding fame in America.
Since 1979 the Hippodrome is owned by the Jay Family. Although they were not a circus family they recognized the important cultural history of the building as a circus venue. Hence they started to produce their own circus shows there. Even the new generation of the Jay Family have caught the circus bug and are introducing many new ideas such as fabulous Pirate Circus Shows.
Hippodrome Circus
St. Georges Road
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
NR30 2EU
United Kingdom
www.hippodromecircus.co.uk
