Circus Etc thrills opening-night Pavilion audience

Wide-eyed in wonder, granddaughter Molly, was among children enthralled at the Christmas Eve opening matinee of Circus Etc at the De La Warr Pavilion.

Luckily it was Hoop La La who had engaged her attention '“ colourful, clever, fast-moving - but relatively safe.

Had it Been Up To Fall, whose gravity-defying antics at the top of two vertical poles had the audience catching its breath, Molly's mother and I would have feared the worst.

Not yet six, Molly is already a confirmed circus fan. She still recalls vividly the acts she enjoyed at the pavilion last Christmas '“ and tries her hand at them'¦

As theatres go, the Pavilion makes the transition to circus big top with remarkable facility.

By stripping out half the stalls and turning the auditorium's "charabanc" raised side seating sideways, a good-sized arena is created, those in the "ringside" seats in particular getting all the close-action involvement of the traditional Big Top.

Hosted by the hard-working, energetic and multi-talented Goronwy Thom,

Circus Etc didn't disappoint.

From the opening dance routine with Santas juggling and hoopla-ing their way to the audience's heart through to Goronwy's big build-up Twelve Days of Christmas this was a show full of skill, spectacle and audience participation.

The many youngsters in the audience clearly loved the clowning and the sheer physicality of the show.

There was much that was original and innovative, particularly Hiccup Aerial's two trapeze performers clowning high above the stage and Tiina Toumisto's hand-balancing '“ a beguiling mixture of gymnastics and contortionism with a graceful overlay of the balletic.

But there were also acts that were pure traditional circus such as Arron Sparks' accomplished juggling and yo-yo work.

LIT Circus appeared to have a slow fuse in their first act. Certainly it was a long time before the act exploded into action. It was the only time when Molly's attention was not fully on the ring.

The twosome made up for this when they got into their swing with the larger of the two throwing the smaller about the arena. Acrobatic clowning like this looks simple but depends on split-second timing.

Hoop La La built up achievement after hoop-twirling achievement before bringing their act to a dazzling climax with massed hoola hoops painting patterns of light in a darkened ring.

Up To Fall opened the second half with that telling blend of circus skill and humour that was woven throughout the show.

How anyone can plunge head-first from the top of a vertical pool stopping inches from the floor defies physics.

Molly, do NOT attempt this at home'¦!

Craig, "the incredible hoola boy," kept no fewer than 23 hoola hoops on the go in a second-half solo turn.

Too soon Circus Etc was drawing to a close. But the ever-present Goronwy had one final ace up his sleeve.

His hilarious adaptation of The Twelve Days Of Christmas had adults letting their hair down and joining what had been a succession of happily-willing child participants throughout the show in acting out this seasonal favourite.

Good fun throughout, often good spectacle, Circus Etc did not fail to captivate an increasingly discerning Molly.

Circus Etc runs at the pavilion until Tuesday.