Russia has proven an object of fascination for football fans this summer, with the World Cup keeping enthusiasts glued to the television.
But for those wishing to get out and sample the host nation’s culture, some of its most cherished traditions will be on display as a legendary export tours the north-east.
Performers from The Moscow State Circus pitched up their big top in Elgin yesterday as they prepare to dazzle audiences.
The new show, Gostinista, is set in a 1930s hotel and the performers entered the Moray town in the style of the time – with an acrobat dressed as a vintage bellboy and female performers dressed in glitzy dresses which reflected the glamour of the era.
The Russian daredevils are marking the 250th anniversary of the Moscow State Circus this summer.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “The circus has been planning this event for the last two years and the artistes have been in training to get ready for this world-beating performance, which promises to be breathtaking.”
Two clowns known as the Chervotkins Duo will guide the audience through the spectacle, which promises to feature some “death defying” acrobatic feats such as those performed by the Didyk Troupe.
The jaw-dropping act involves the pair flying through the air and somersaulting from one fast moving swing to another.
Unicyclists, the Gorodetskiys Duo, and trapeze artists, the Peruskins Duo and Anna Rastsova, will also feature.
The show will run at Elgin’s Lossie Green until Tuesday, and will travel to Inverness for a run from next Thursday to the following Tuesday at the Inverness Caledonian Thistle ground.
From there, the entertainers will visit Aberdeen with shows at Queens Links from Thursday, July 19, to Sunday, August 5.
