Giffords Circus’ Waterfield feels like stepping into a forgotten corner of the English countryside. The moment you enter the big top, with giant reeds, grasses and toadstools rising around the ring, you are no longer in Chiswick. You are tiny. Shrunk down into a world of riverbanks and undergrowth, where rabbits juggle, geese wander into the spotlight, and woodland creatures perform feats that seem to defy physics.

Last year was my first experience of Giffords and I came away completely charmed. This year I returned for Waterfield, directed by Cal McCrystal, but this time without the children. Just me and my wife, drinks from the bar in hand, settling in under the canvas for an evening performance.

And that is worth mentioning because while Giffords absolutely works as a family outing, don’t make the mistake of thinking it is only for children. Our evening performance was packed with adults enjoying drinks before the show and settling in for what is genuinely a beautiful evening of circus, live music, theatre, and artistry.

The set, designed by Beatrix Eden, is gorgeous. The audience wraps around most of the tent while the remaining space becomes this oversized natural world of reeds, grasses, and fungi that immediately put me in mind of Ovo, the Cirque du Soleil production I saw last year at the Royal Albert Hall (review here). Both shows play with the idea of a miniature world full of creatures and oversized nature, although Waterfield feels more intimate and distinctly British.

The show opens with Raf Shah’s poetic Weasel stepping into the ring before being interrupted by Ratty and Mole, played by clowns Olivia Louise Swoboda-Weinstein and Stefan Swoboda. Their gently chaotic energy becomes the comic thread running through the show and they are great fun throughout.

And they are not “just” clowns. Alongside all the comedy, they also perform a wonderfully silly but genuinely impressive hula hoop and balancing routine that serves as a reminder that these are highly skilled circus artists as well as entertainers.

The first big circus act belongs to Rodney Rabbit, played by Sonny Caveagna, whose juggling routine is hugely impressive. Sporting magnificent rabbit ears and moustache, he eases the audience into the evening before the show starts raising the stakes with increasingly nerve-shredding acts.

Music has always been one of Giffords’ great strengths and Waterfield is no exception. Jenna Dearness-Dark emerges in a beautiful swan-inspired showgirl costume and delivers stunning vocals, while James Keay’s musical direction and Joe Pickering’s superb band fill the tent with rich live music. Dressed as grasshoppers and nestled among the reeds, the musicians are very much a part of the world itself.

Visually, the show is gorgeous throughout. Takis’ production and costume design fills the ring with beautiful creations, from elegant show costumes to insect-inspired designs that help bring this tiny countryside world to life. The costumes throughout the show are fabuous and add enormously to the atmosphere and storytelling.

The international cast are exceptional throughout, but a few acts are particularly awesome.

The Cienna Sisters, appearing as mantises in striking green costumes, deliver an aerial straps performance that is both beautiful and mildly terrifying. Their trust in each other is extraordinary. One moment they are wrapped around each other in what almost looks like an embrace suspended high above the ring, the next one of them is hanging impossibly from the other while the audience collectively forgets to breathe.

The Jasters, an Italian couple dressed lightly as a fox and a hen, bring precision and danger twice over, first with an impressive crossbow routine and later with a knife throwing act that is very hard to watch. The couple’s daughter, Jessyka Jasters – aka Squirrel Nutkin – also impresses hugely with her foot juggling act, while the Valencia Flyers deliver one of the evening’s most terrifying moments with the famous Wheel of Death. My wife repeatedly looked away during their terrifying act. Even knowing these performers are highly trained, there is still something astonishing about watching people push themselves to such extremes, simply for our entertainment.

One of my favourite moments of the night came from the Addis Ababa Troupe. Their banquine act includes enormous throws, catches, and balancing sequences that look almost impossible. One particularly ambitious move took several attempts on press night, but rather than hurting the atmosphere, it made it even better. The audience got completely behind them and when they finally landed it the tent erupted into cheers and a standing ovation. It was one of those wonderful live moments that you simply cannot plan.

There are also a few animal acts woven into the narrative, including the more traditional circus fare of horses showing off their skills in the ring. Otto, Maisie, and tiny Shetland pony Tinkerbell are all lovely, but there is also Brian the Goose. Yes, you heard that right, a goose. Brian mostly waddles around being a goose, but Brian is excellent at it and the audience clearly adore him.

I mentioned earlier the intimacy of Giffords Circus, and it really is something special. You are close to the performers. You feel connected to them. There is something so lovely about this family-run circus and the warmth running through everything it does.

That warmth extends beyond the ring too. A special mention to the wonderful front of house team, especially Molly, Maisie, Eva, and Eve, who were all absolutely lovely and definitely didn’t ask me to put them in my review… In all seriousness, FOH don’t ever get the praise they deserve and the team at Giffords do a fabulous job.

The feeling of connectivity between cast and audience reaches its peak at the end of the show when the audience are invited into the ring to dance with the cast. It’s a fabulous opportunity for adults and kids alike to dance with the performers that they have spent the show admiring. They did it last year too and it’s a moment of pure magic.

So yes, bring the children if you have them. But also bring your partner, your mates, grab a drink and spend an evening watching beautiful people do impossible things.

Waterfield is stunning, thrilling, intimate, and utterly charming. Don’t make the mistake of thinking Giffords is only for families, you would be missing one of the most exciting nights out of the summer.

Giffords Circus Waterfield is touring the UK until 27th September 2026.

Tickets and more info from giffordscircus.com

Words Nick Barr

Photography Jeff Moore