William Tudor’s Cambridge Circus

In August 1896, William Tudor opened a permanent brick-built circus at the north end of Auckland Road, next to Midsummer Common. Tudor’s New Circus was a successor to the temporary wooden circuses in which he had run seasons on the Common, and it stood on land owned by Barnwell coachbuilder, publican, developer and boatyard owner Thomas Askham.

But who was William Tudor? And who were all the trick cyclists, acrobats, animal trainers, tight-rope walkers, moving-picture exhibitors, and clowns that he brought to Cambridge from 1893 to 1900? This talk will introduce Evetta the woman clown, Alar the Human Arrow, Oscar Dubourg the Man Fish (not forgetting his watery co-star, Lolla the Mermaid), and Funny Fred Hall, the clown who came in 1898 and never left. And you will learn a little about the audience when you meet Frederick Jones, the Cockburn Street tripe dresser who had a memorable night at the circus.

Riki McDonald and Jim Smith have delved into the history of a building that saw a gradual change from circus to variety theatre in its 20-year life as an entertainment venue – there will be more popular entertainment packed into forty minutes’ talk than you can imagine!

This talk takes place at Ross Street Community Centre, a fully accessible venue, and is open to all. Doors open at 7pm and the talk starts at 7:30pm.

Also check out other Arts events in Cambridge, Theatre events in Cambridge.