Real animals have been replaced by puppets in Circus 1903, a musical that sets to recapture the golden age of circus.
These extraordinary puppets were created by the talented team behind the play War Horse.
Puppet creator Mervin Millar explains in this video that the size of the performer is the first factor taken into consideration when creating the elephants. From there on out, all the designs come from the puppeteer. Although puppeteering is difficult work, the primary goal of the creators is to make something as easy to handle as possible.
Luke Chadwick-Jones, a puppeteer in the musical, describes just how hard the work is: “It’s a lot of pressure on the back, I’m in constant plank position. And the weight kind of sits just above the head, so it puts a lot of pressure on the lower back.”
All the hard work is worth it, however. When Peanut the baby elephant (played by Chadwick-Jones) appears, the kids in the audience are thrilled by his playful antics.
With its use of puppets instead of real elephants, Circus 1903 demonstrates one major lesson, above all: it is, indeed, possible for a circus to forego cruelty without sacrificing the quality of its entertainment!
What’s New…
I for one feel that circuses should be banned…they only exploit animals and some have been found to torture them and cruelly abuse them..what are we teaching our children..when we take them to see circuses..?? that its ok to use animals for entertainment..when they are not..they belong in the wild with their own kind..stop this cruel practice of using animals for entertainment.
Genius circus ? Oh no, not you Lady Freethinker, you should be more critical about such practise, it shows that it is still ok to teach tricks to animals, in a way. And it doesn’t take our minds off slavery and taming, and controlling animals. It is as if we would represent black children fighting (yes it used to be entertainment in the US), because they is/was an audience for that, but the little fighters would be puppets, does it make it acceptable ? Certainly not.
I get your point BUT I think this is slightly different — the audience is more intelligent than that — I admire the artistry & manufacture of the paper products of animals on stage — they are NOT real, live animals which is highly, mainly important here — even though paper animals are depicted as being tamed and controlled, I don’t believe the audience will then leave the arena and take away it’s OK to exploit, dominate, enslave elephants. I am more than willing to correct my point of view but I still have not been convinced that this performance is abusive to elephants.
Sad to see that even when we could do without animal cruelty, this kind of show still promotes cruelty. Get a life you performers, the Cirque du Soleil is one of the most succesful circus in the world, and has not a single non human animal in the show.
Just wonderful! Thank you so much. I love elephants so how great that eventually (we hope) they will just be animals in the wild.
Well said. I totally agree. The same meaning behind it.
Yes, None of the cruelty, but the same sick mind…
Yasmin I totally agree. Exact same meaning as using live elephants.
Yes, I agree ! Sad to see.
People…please boycott any animal show/venue/entertainment/circus. PLEASE.
This is terrific! I hope it spells the end of forcing animals to live miserable, abused lives in circus captivity.
Good ideal ! Animals should not be use in circuses, etc.
I like this. I hope it catches on.Would be great if it could replace the horrific circuses using and abusing live animals.
What the heck is wrong with the world!! We need stronger laws that protect animals. All this makes me sick!! And who suffers the poor animals!!
Lisa why are you against something that is stopping animals being used,I do not understand your objections.Is it not better to use puppets than real animals.
Amazing!
BEAUTIFUL Idea. Thank you.
Thank you God for putting a end to the ungodly , I think its about time for them to become rotting, So they can feel the results that the animals felt un-faulting, I hope they hear these words “I’m God First” so stop me……………………………………………………………………
A great idea! A forward looking circus acting responsibily. Well done.
Thank you a thousand times.
This is a great idea. I would love to see this circus.
THIS IS LOVELY. Finally we can attend to see the Circuses with Elephants yet without having done any cruelty to real Elephants…FANTASTIC IDEAS…LOVE IT…
So amazing! Wonderful idea!!!
FABULOUS AND SO MUCH BETTER THAN LIVE ! ! ! THANKS TO ALL FORWARD THINKING ARTISTS INVOLVED ..
This is absolutely beautiful — they seem so real — excellent idea — now THIS is ENTERTAINMENT — no abuse, no cruelty — you can’t beat this — THANK YOU to the wonderful creators for doing REAL elephants a huge favor and giving us all hours of pure joy — THANK YOU.
I’m glad they’re not using real animals. But I’m concerned for Chadwick-Jones’ health. Isn’t there a way he could be supported so that he doesn’t end up crippled with back pain?
This is the FUTURE OF. THE CIRCUS with a lot of profits 1) no harm to any animal 2)no bills for nutrition, vet, handler 3) performances that would not be reached with live animals 4) animals lovers would RETURN TO THE CIRCUS SHOWS with their family!!