Hidden circus found in North Yorkshire barn set to return to the big top
A chance discovery in a second-hand bookshop has led to the revival of a long forgotten travelling circus.
The Great Yorkshire Circus will return to the road this summer, following an extraordinary chain of events that began with a single, dusty book.
Local theatre producer Jamie Hudson, of Yeadon Town Hall Theatre, stumbled across an old publication referencing a now vanished circus known as “The Yorkshire Circus”.
Intrigued by the detail and history within its pages, he began digging further.
Hidden inside the story was a clue that led to the discovery of an original ledger, documenting routes, performers and, crucially, the last known storage location of the circus equipment. What followed was something of a real life barn find.
Tucked away in a rural North Yorkshire barn sat the remains of the circus. Old wagons, faded signage, costumes, props and equipment, all left untouched for years. Jamie Hudson said: “It felt like stepping back in time. We were not just looking at a few props, this was a whole circus that had simply been packed away and forgotten about.”
Over the past two years, the entire collection has been carefully restored, rebuilt and, where needed, recreated. Scenery has been brought back to life, costumes remade, props repaired and a brand new production developed around the spirit of the original show. Now, The Great Yorkshire Circus is ready to return.
The circus will tour for a strictly limited eight week run this summer, bringing a traditional, family friendly show to towns across Yorkshire. Combining classic circus skills with strong theatrical storytelling, the production has been designed to capture the charm of a bygone era while still feeling fresh and exciting for modern audiences.
Leading the show is ringmaster Jacob Phillips of Codswallop CIC, whose performance brings warmth, humour and classic showmanship to the centre of the ring.
Jacob Phillips said: “This is what a circus should feel like. Close, exciting, a bit magical and full of personality. It is about creating moments that people remember.
“Having spent seven years restoring Yeadon Town Hall Theatre, this felt like the perfect side project, making use of the quieter summer months to bring something new to life.”
The show will take place inside a traditional style big top, with an intentionally limited capacity of just 250 seats per performance. This creates an intimate atmosphere where every audience member is close to the action.
Audiences can expect a fast paced production featuring a mix of aerial performance, ground based acts, theatrical moments, music and plenty of surprises. It is designed for children, families and, as the team describe it, grown up children who still believe in something a bit special.
The Great Yorkshire Circus will visit the following locations:
* Oulton (Oulton & Woodlesford Sports & Social Club): July 23 to July 26.
* Skipton (Aireville Park): July 29 to August 2.
* Ilkley (East Holmes Field): August 5 to August 9.
* Northallerton (Northallerton Sports Village): August 12 to August 16.
* Harrogate (Valley Gardens): August 19 to August 30.
* Ripon (Spa Park): September 2 to September 6.
Jamie Hudson added: “We have kept this deliberately small. This is circus-magic on tour, and a really accessible way for young families to experience something live, captivating, fun and genuinely theatrical. You are not watching from a distance, you are part of it. That is where the magic of the circus really lives!”
* Tickets go on sale on Saturday 4 April via: www.greatyorkshirecircus.com