This article is from page 5 of the 2006-09-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
THE grief-stricken Royal Russian Circus opened in Ennis on Thursday, for the first time since one of its performers lost his life at a show in Scariff.
More than 300 circus fans visited the big top, which was the scene of the tragic accident just over a week before.
Vitaly Kharapavitski fell to his death as he performed the last trick in a comic air balloon act with his wife, Sasha.
The tragic Belarusian acrobat joined the circus last April with his wife of just one year. The 26-year-old was buried last week in Minsk.
The 35-member staff of the Royal Russian Circus was apprehensive about the first night’s performance, but all went to plan, according to the circus spokesperson.
Wayne Courtney said the show “went well in front of a very responsive crowd”.
He said that the circus was happy with the 300-strong attendance in the big top that holds a maximum of between 450 and 500 people.
The circus continued in the Ennis Showgrounds at Drumbiggle on Friday and Saturday, and finished with two large shows on Sunday before moving on to Galway.
Last week, Mr Courtney told The Clare People that performers risked their lives every time they stepped into the big top on show night, but there were very few accidents.
“While nobody was talking about their fears, I am sure that the accident was playing on the minds of the other trapeze artists,” he said.