More Russian Shows To Come To N.Z.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32379, 19 August 1970, Page 14

More Russian Shows To Come To N.Z.

Three major shows from the Soviet Union, the Great Moscow Circus, the Leningrad Kirov Ballet, and a variety company on ice will tour New Zealand next year.

Announcing this last evening, Mr M. Edgley, the managing director of Edgley and Dawe Attractions Proprietary, Ltd, of Australia said that the Great Moscow Circus, which would include the internationally acclaimed clown, Popov.' and acts by bears and lions would appear in New Zealand in the first two months of 1971.

Mr Edgley said he would leave for Moscow tomorrow to finalise details of the programme. “The Great Moscow Circus involves 9000 artists in 2500 acts. I will be going there to choose a programme, just as I did in 1968 and as my father did in 1965.” Mr Edgley explained that in Russia the circus was not built just around animal acts but centred on performers. The circus will be seen in Hagley Park from February 4 to 13, in Auckland from January 1 to 16, and at Hutt Park. Wellington, from January 20 to 30. It will be housed in the biggest tent built in the Soutern Hemisphere—capable of seating up to 5000 persons. The tent was manufactured for the 1968 Moscow Circus which was seen by Im Australians in its 17-week tour. Negotiations to bring the circus on its tour of Australia, New Zealand and Singapore next year began three years ago, he said. The animals and equipment will be brought to the Dominion from the Soviet Union by a special ship which will arrive at Auckland in midDecember.

Mr Edgley said be had been very pleased with the response in New Zealand to the two Soviet shows he had pre-

sented this year—the Georgian State Dance Company and the Berioska Dance Company of Moscow, which ended its season last evening. The response in Christchurch had been such that without any question it would be on the itieraries of all future Russian shows brought to New Zealand. There would be at least one a year. The dates for the Leningrad Kirov Ballet Company and the variety show on ace will be announced later. The tour by the Great Moscow Circus will be presented by Edgley and Dawe Attractions Proprietary, Ltd, J. C. Williamson Theatres, Ltd, Bullen Bros., Proprietary, Ltd, and the Kerridge Odean Corporation.