Difference between revisions of "Circus"

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In South African usage the term ''[[Circus|circus]]'', initially referred to outdoor or indoor performances demonstrating equestrian skills, usually by companies visiting the Cape Colony in the 19th century - the events possibly including some other acts to link the displays of horsemanship.
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= The term Circus =
  
Later in the 20th century however, the term was more specifically employed to refer to the more standard definition, i.e. what ''Wikipedia''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus] describes as "a company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other object manipulation and stunt-oriented artists".  
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[[Circus]] can refer to a specific '''type''' of performance, a [[theatrical event]] made up of a particular set of [[performance]]s, the venue or space in which such performances occur, the company of performers that undertake such performances.  
  
== Sources ==
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It is also used metaphorically at times, referring to an event or institution that is somehow inept, undisciplined, confused and/or ridiculous.  (E.g. "The meeting turned into a [[circus]]")
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The term itself dates from Greek and Roman times (Greek "κίρκος", Latin "circus", meaning "circle" or "ring"), and refers to the circular performance space used by most circusses. Over the ages the space has been used for a variety of purposes and has taken numerous forms - from outdoor games, ceremonies and spectacles, to indoor events (in temporary, and/or permanent structures, including the well-known bell-tent). In time the term also referred to the performance form itself, and the name was used to refer to companies or troops of performers as well.
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'''See [[Circus]] in ''Wikipedia''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus] for a good general introduction the concept and references for further reading.'''
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=Circus in South Africa=
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==The term circus in South Africa==
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In South African the British usage was largely followed and the term ''[[Circus|circus]]'' thus initially tended to refer to outdoor or indoor performances demonstrating equestrian skills, usually by companies visiting the Cape Colony in the 19th century - the events possibly including some other [[Vaudeville|vaudeville]] style acts to link the displays of horsemanship.
 +
 
 +
Later in the 19th and much of the 20th centuries however, the term was more specifically employed to refer to the more standard English definition, i.e. what ''Wikipedia''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus] describes as "a company of performers that may include [[clown]]s, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other object manipulation and stunt-oriented artists". Usually a travelling show, performed in a tent.
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== Overview and history ==
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== Some specific [[circuses]] in South Africa ==
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[[African Circus]]
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[[Astley's Circus]]
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[[Boswell's Circus]]
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[[Boswell-Wilkie Circus]]
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[[Brian Boswell's Circus]]
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[[Brian's Circus]]
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[[Cape Town Circus]]
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[[Equestrian Gymnastics]]
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[[Franklin's International Circus]]
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[[French Dramatic Artistes]]
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[[Italian Circus]]
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[[McLaren's Circus]]
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[[Noble's Circus]]; [[Noble's Olympic Circus]]
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[[Oliver's Circus]]
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[[Olympic Circus De Paris]]
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[[Pagel's Circus]]
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[[Royal Magnet Combination Troupe]]
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[[Santanna's Circus]]
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[[Texas Jack's Circus]]
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[[Victoria Circus]]
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[[Wilkie's Circus]]
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[[Zip Zap Circus School]]
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== Some publications devoted to South African circus life ==
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[[Stage and Circus]] (1906-)
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= Sources =
  
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus
  
[[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1928[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/]
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[[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1928. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika'', Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: [[J.H. de Bussy]]. [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/].
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[[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]].
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[[Floris J. G. Van der Merwe|Van der Merwe, Floris J. G.]] 2007. ''Frank Fillis: The Story of a Circus Legend''. Stellenbosch: [[FJG Publikasies]].
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[[Floris J. G. Van der Merwe|Van der Merwe, Floris J. G.]] 2012. ''Die Boere-Sirkus van St. Louis (1904)''. Stellenbosch: [[FJG Publikasies]].
  
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
== Return to ==
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= Return to =
  
 
Return to [[The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries]]  
 
Return to [[The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries]]  
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Return to [[South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries]]
 
Return to [[South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries]]
  
Return to [[South African Film /Terminology and Thematic Entries]]
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]
 
 
Return to [[South African Media/Terminology and Thematic Entries]]
 
  
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 13:52, 4 December 2021

The term Circus

Circus can refer to a specific type of performance, a theatrical event made up of a particular set of performances, the venue or space in which such performances occur, the company of performers that undertake such performances.

It is also used metaphorically at times, referring to an event or institution that is somehow inept, undisciplined, confused and/or ridiculous. (E.g. "The meeting turned into a circus")

The term itself dates from Greek and Roman times (Greek "κίρκος", Latin "circus", meaning "circle" or "ring"), and refers to the circular performance space used by most circusses. Over the ages the space has been used for a variety of purposes and has taken numerous forms - from outdoor games, ceremonies and spectacles, to indoor events (in temporary, and/or permanent structures, including the well-known bell-tent). In time the term also referred to the performance form itself, and the name was used to refer to companies or troops of performers as well.

See Circus in Wikipedia[1] for a good general introduction the concept and references for further reading.

Circus in South Africa

The term circus in South Africa

In South African the British usage was largely followed and the term circus thus initially tended to refer to outdoor or indoor performances demonstrating equestrian skills, usually by companies visiting the Cape Colony in the 19th century - the events possibly including some other vaudeville style acts to link the displays of horsemanship.

Later in the 19th and much of the 20th centuries however, the term was more specifically employed to refer to the more standard English definition, i.e. what Wikipedia[2] describes as "a company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other object manipulation and stunt-oriented artists". Usually a travelling show, performed in a tent.

Overview and history

Some specific circuses in South Africa

African Circus

Astley's Circus

Boswell's Circus

Boswell-Wilkie Circus

Brian Boswell's Circus

Brian's Circus

Cape Town Circus

Equestrian Gymnastics

Franklin's International Circus

French Dramatic Artistes

Italian Circus

McLaren's Circus

Noble's Circus; Noble's Olympic Circus

Oliver's Circus

Olympic Circus De Paris

Pagel's Circus

Royal Magnet Combination Troupe

Santanna's Circus

Texas Jack's Circus

Victoria Circus

Wilkie's Circus

Zip Zap Circus School

Some publications devoted to South African circus life

Stage and Circus (1906-)

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [3].

F.C.L. Bosman, 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik.

Van der Merwe, Floris J. G. 2007. Frank Fillis: The Story of a Circus Legend. Stellenbosch: FJG Publikasies.

Van der Merwe, Floris J. G. 2012. Die Boere-Sirkus van St. Louis (1904). Stellenbosch: FJG Publikasies.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page