Chris Barltrop

Chris Barltrop discovered the world of the circus in 1973 when, as a 'resting' actor, he took a fill-in job with a travelling show. When they asked him to be their ringmaster, he was launched on a career that's taken him across the world, touring France, New Zealand, Germany and Holland as well as performances in Ireland and his native UK. With a lifelong interest in social history, it was natural that Chris wanted to find out the origins of the modern circus. Research led him to discover the exact site in London used by the 'Father of the Modern Circus' Philip Astley, a war hero turned trick-rider who shared the ring with his wife Patty. Together, the couple came up with the idea of adding acrobats, rope-walkers, and a clown to their equestrian presentations, and one of the world's favourite art-forms was born. That was in 1768. In 2018, for the 250th Anniversary of Astley's invention, Chris Barltrop researched and wrote a one-man play about the story, bringing Philip Astley back to cantankerous larger-than-life. Gaining five star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and praised at Literary festivals, studio theatres, and even at London's Victoria and Albert Museum, the playscript is now published in an unusual format which sees historical annotations directly facing the script of the monologue. Read, learn, and enjoy!