Cirque Surreal – get down there

This is an astonishing show. Whilst you still have chance go – it's only on until Saturday.

This writer's family went along last Saturday. Now we are not a circus going family as such. A recent one we went to in North France was, if truth be known, a little dull, with half-hearted animals to boot.

So it was with mixed feelings that we set out to Cirque Surreal. What we got were two hours of pure captivation, of traditional circus skills, mingled with dance, drama and humour.

In terms of what appealed this was pure battle of the sexes. For the girl the highlight was the pair of acrobats doing unreal manoeuvres on the high wire to lush synthesiser music, very romantic. For the boys it was the extraordinary football skills of one gent who could put Ronaldinho to shame. For the fella, the poison ivy lycra clad trapeze artist twisting herself in frankly unreal ways still figures in his dreams.

Throughout the hilarious clown (and how many clowns are rubbish?) kept us laughing out loud with his antics. If you go and you have an extrovert nature, sit on the front seats. This may be your chance to run away to the circus. The clown likes to involve people, let's say.

The finale on the rotating apparatus with the two very very brave men topped it all in terms of spectacle. But hey let's not give the secrets away.

Just go if you get chance, go as a couple or as family, or eve on your own if that's your bag. Just don't miss this.

The Cirque Surreal Big Top is next to the Trafford Centre until Sunday 27 April. For tickets call 01260288602