It is accepted that in any regional city in Russia there is always a circus. If there was no permanent acting with his building, every summer a big top came for the whole warm period. The circus is one of the most beloved spectacles of the people at all times.
Most deserved
The northern capital is a very large city. Naturally, the circus in St. Petersburg is not alone. And a review of these spectacular establishments must begin with the largest, which is a striking feature of the city. The Big St. Petersburg State Circus on the Fontanka is its full name. One of the most important indicators of uniqueness is that in huge Russia the building of this circus became the first stone stationary profile construction. The circus in St. Petersburg existed before, but in a wooden structure, which was built in 1867 on
Manezhnaya Square. In 1875 (it is clear that this circus is the oldest on the Fontanka), Italian Gaetano Ciniselli, whose life belonged to this art form completely, received permission from the tsarist government to build a permanent circus.
Christmas story
Already in 1877, December 26, just before the New Year, the city received a fairy tale as a gift. On the territory of the Engineering Square, near Mikhailovsky Castle, or rather its southern facade, on the site of the former circus, which did not last long, a new one was constructed according to the design of V. A. Kenel. The wooden building previously standing on this site in 1827 belonged to Circus Turner, but in 1828 it was redone for theatrical productions. The new stone palace, which received the circus in St. Petersburg, was built in accordance with all the achievements of advanced engineering and was a specialized (taking into account all the requirements of this art form), unique technical construction.
Amazing options
The principles of construction of such buildings, first applied in the northern capital, were for many years laid the foundation for the construction of circus structures around the world. Everything was innovative - the dome height of 49.7 m, its original support by internal columns, a ribbed roof set resembling an overturned cup from the outside - everything was the latest word in the construction technique of such institutions. The new circus in St. Petersburg met the city’s needs for spectacles - 1,500 seats in the stalls were complemented by spacious galleries. As a result, up to 5000 people could watch the performance at the same time. For the city, its discovery, of course, was an event. The building was quite majestic and not inferior to the interior decoration and appearance of the famous imperial theaters. “Ciniselli Circus” - that was the name of this miracle until 1919.
Favorite and visited at all times
Then came the times of the State Circus. And in these years he remained beloved by the townspeople, as before the revolution. In Soviet times, the building was repaired, but, allegedly, not very successfully - the acoustics of the hall worsened, the load on the dome increased. In 2003-2004 the facade was renovated. And in the fall of 2014, the circus on Fontanka embarked on the long-awaited reconstruction, which should be completed by November 2015. Fans and employees have high hopes for it - earlier mistakes should be completely eliminated, and the circus must be restored to its historical appearance. However, the team is not idle, but prepared for the opening of a new season in a temporary big top building. Bolshoi Saint Petersburg will host spectators in Yesenin Park, near the metro station Dybenko Street.
"Big Top" stays with us
For many centuries, the circus was a crossroads. They were waiting for him, they were sad when he left, and the platform was empty (how many films were written and made about this). The Russian booths were gradually replaced by a big top, and the circus on wheels began to be called so. The big top is a canvas or canvas tent stretched over prefabricated structures. There is such a circus in St. Petersburg. Avtovo is a historical district in the south-west of the city. Known since pre-Petrine times, it is on a map of 1699 called the village of Autova. In 1985, the Mayak circus tent was established here, which had, over the years, scattered its tent opposite Victory Park. But on this site it was decided to build the Russian National Library, and the circus permanently left for another district and began to be called by its name "Avtovo French Circus". A tremendous amount of preparatory work was carried out, as a result of which a completely new sample of the big top circus - stationary, arose. The unmistakably chosen French company Lucien-Walter built a unique ultramodern building that meets all the requirements of circus art. The circus tent in St. Petersburg has become another of its attractions. An elegant tent organically fit into the landscape of the northern capital. Everything is unique in it - both design and layout. Citizens fell in love with this unusual building, opened in 1995.
New trends
In the famous city there is another curiosity that is becoming more and more popular throughout the world, known as Uppsala Circus in St. Petersburg. Amazingly shocking things and phenomena always arise in capitals and megacities. The name of the circus came up with a hint of its "hooligan" essence - from the banter phrase "oops" and the circus - "ala". They position themselves as a hooligan circus, although they have long been professionals with very good earnings. The project was incredibly successful. But the "hooligan" style is maintained in everything. This mixture of buffoonery and street theater arose simultaneously with the filing of the German Astrid Schorn, who found a like-minded person in the person of Larisa Afanasyeva. Their pain and care were
difficult teenagers, street children. With the aim of adapting them to society, the idea arose to use adventurous inclinations and childlike spontaneity, and on this basis to create a kind of show where everything will be - theatrical action, and acrobatics, and pantomime. Everything worked out. This circus is very popular, it takes part in international competitions and wins in them. Performances that have a pronounced individual character always take place with a full house. This circus is unlike the rest, and so good. It has its own building located at 44
Sverdlovskaya Embankment . The full name is Uppsala Circus, Ano.