We find out what’s been going on behind the scenes of the UK’s hottest adults-only circus show as Cirque du Vulgar prepares for their first ever performance on Saturday 14th July in Exmouth.
“We’ve promised flesh, we’ve promised filth, we’ve promised stunts. This is one circus show that you can’t take the kids to!”
…says Emilion Delbosq as he sets up his props ready for the big night. Emilion aka ‘Frank’ is one half of outrageous comedy duo Frank and Beans, who will be providing the belly laughs and vulgar jokes throughout the 18+ show.
“Me and Beans go way back. But we’ve had so much fun pushing the boundaries for this show.” Beans, better known as Antonio Russel Candela, plays the pyromaniac with a penchant for stuffed rabbits. Despite his Ringmaster jacket, he’s nowhere near the respectable host you might expect.
“I got most of my stuff out of a skip. I’m really only here for the Dominatrix.” Cracking that dominating whip is Lucia, probably the only Dominatrix in the world with her own aerial act. She admits she finds it surprisingly easy to get into character – almost as easy as swinging high in the roof of the Big Top without a lunge, of course.
Lucia is one of three ‘Vulgarettes’ who perform an alluring feather dance. In a moment of candour she reveals “burlesque is so hard to get right. We practised fully dressed for weeks to make sure the positioning of the feathers was just right. Only to realise when it was time to practice naked, my boobs were a lot further south than when I’d been rehearsing with a bra on!”
Backstage everyone at the touring circus is helping pull the show together. Dancers are staying up late creating the banging soundtrack, hula hoopers and acrobats are assembling glowing ‘BAR’ signs, and someone is setting fire to huge burning letters that spell out the word ‘INTERVAL’.
Like many travelling shows, there’s a lot of families at Cirque du Vulgar. However it’s not always the type of family advice you need, as Emilion laughs, “my own mum told me I had to use a bigger dildo for my magic trick!”
Among the weird and wonderful items which have found their way into the circus ring are a full-size bath, perfect for sexy French Maid Felicia to emerge out of dripping wet. Tipped as “a group favourite,” her powerful aerial straps act is one to watch.
The pressure is on for Exmouth, being their first ever Cirque du Vulgar show. Magic Ivan (who pulls off an excellent Magic Mike impression) has been working out solidly for weeks. Ivan and his fellow chiselled acrobat Nikolay star in the big jaw-dropping finale act, a Wheel of Death which rotates high in the air whilst the two acrobats jump and skip across the top.
Of course, the Vulgar touch: they will be wearing Kilts. “It goes without saying, you’ve never seen anything like Cirque du Vulgar before!” Upside down hunks in trunks, gorgeous pole dancing, the ‘Only Gay in the Circus’, a ukulele, champagne on ice, a Jessica Rabbit costume, and plenty of those trousers which rip off at the Velcro seams… the naughty and hilarious cast of Cirque du Vulgar have thought of it all.
And they cannot WAIT to unveil it…
This unique adults-only circus performs for one night only on Saturday 14th July in the circus Big Top at Imperial Recreation Ground in Exmouth. Tickets are almost sold out, so please be advised that pre-booking is essential.
Two more performances are scheduled in Cornwall later in the summer, starting with Penzance on Saturday 28th July and followed by Falmouth on 4th August. Visit www.facebook.com/cirqueduvu for more details and to book.
