Big tops’ small war

Press, 17 July 1980, Page 14

Big tops’ small war

From the “Economist”* Bread and circuses, said Juvenal, will keep the common herd' content. Britain’s 5000 .dr so showmen are profiting from the Roman’s market research. About 30 travelling and stay-put circuses have been prospering in Britain for; .20 years. Despite the wellpublicised bankruptcy of Gerry' Cottle’s Circus —its Iranian-tour coincided with the revolution there, and AVatollah Khqmeiny welshed on? thg Shah’s;, contracts — other .circuses are prospering. Last month, Mr David Smart, spent- $1 million on a new super-circus in London’s Battersea Park.. Mr Smart’s circus is resplendent in a large blue top, with elephants — whose awesome scent is pervasive — seals, clowns and .(mainly east European) trapeze artists. Mr Smart wants to put down roots in the- 1 park, local residents permiting But a small war has.broken’ out under the big top. The

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (R.S.P.C.A.) is challenging the use of performing animals. It complains of elephants kept in furniture vans'and chained-up lions. ‘ ~\.:Mr' Stefan Ormrod, the society’s circus expert, claims that animals can develop psychoses from performing meaningless rituals like clap- . ping. The society has pressed local councils to refuse sites to circuses. So' far 32 have agreed. The R.S.P.C.A. has put its money where its heart is by giving $20,000 to a circus without animals,, the Circus Hassani, currently at Clapham Common. Just a “variety show,” Jeers the Association of Circus Pro- . prietors. .. . The Showmen’s Guild says that times are harderTor' the operators of Britain’s 250 fairs. Rising diesel bills (and value added tax) are blamed. Showmen have- been hit by. some councils’ belated profitconsciousness: - j Newcastle raised its rent for the town’s Hoppings fair 40 per cent

this year. Britain’s June monsoon has hit hard, too: the Hoppings was a financial washout. Still, it is an allcash business, and extravaganzas- like Nottingham’s Goose Fair have been running since 1284 — taxmen regardless.