Sword swallowers, hair-hangers and demon dwarfs will descend on Epsom in March for an evening of shock n’ roll with a devil doll.

The Circus of Horrors will be in town with an almighty cast who have a forked tongue firmly placed in each cheek.  

In the last couple of years the profile of the show has rocketed, with the circus rampaging into the finals of Britain's Got Talent and then appearing on the likes of The X Factor and Body Shockers.

It first started its gruesome beginnings at the 1995 Glastonbury Festival and became an instant hit, touring all over the world from Chile to Chatham, Argentina to Aberdeen, including festival appearances with Alice Cooper, Eminem, Motley Crue, Oasis, Iron Maiden and The Manic Street Preachers.

Epsom is in for twists and turns, grisly murders and sensational shocks, all interwoven with some of the greatest and most bizarre circus acts on earth - knife throwers, daredevil balancing acts, astounding aerialists, a dwarf strong man, a Guinness World Record holding ‘hairculian’ hair-hanging beauty, sinister sisters, gyrating and fire limboing acrobats, a dislocating contortionist and more.

VIBE caught up with one of the shows leading acts, the outrageously hair-raising and hair-hanging Joanna Sawicka, to delve into what makes this circus the most intriguing in town.

VIBE: Why did you want to join the Circus?

Joanna Sawicka: "There is something really romantic about running away with a circus and there just isn't a better circus to run away with than the Circus of Horrors.

"The plan was to only do it for one year but whilst I was taking a break from my studies I loved it so much I stayed on and been a part of it for the last six years.

"I have also attended the Circus of horrors a few years before and thought I could really find my place between the bizarre and wonderful.

"Circus of horrors is a real amalgamation of different acts form dislocating contortionist, demon dwarfs to some outstanding aerial performances that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat if not falling off of it laughing.

"There is something for everybody here and it is a huge pleasure to be a part of it.

"To me it’s not just a show it’s a way of life and all the performers became like family to me."

V: What made you choose hair-hanging as a circus act?

JS: "Hair-hanging is a very old circus act and originates in China, in fact it used to be Chinese men who used to do it.

"When I first joined the Circus of Horrors I was doing what I would now consider to be smaller ‘freak show’ type stunts, but we play big venues and although it all looked great up close I felt I wanted to move on to something bigger, and I find hair-hanging combines the freak show and the circus perfectly.

"It is also quite unpleasant to learn therefore there isn't much competition out there.

"When I was a kid back in Poland boys used to always pull on my hair and it never bothered me so I knew I would be good at it."

V: What secrets can you share as to how you keep your hair so strong?

JS: "I use a LOT of conditioner."

Circus of Horrors - The Curse of the Devil Doll; Epsom Playhouse, Ashley Avenue, Epsom; March 4, 7.30pm; from £21; call 01372 742555; call www.epsomplayhouse.co.uk

 

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