Hippodrome Circus Gt. Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth has a unique structure in the Hippodrome Circus, the only surviving total circus building from 1903.  This Edwardian structure was built by circus showman George Gilbert as a permanent home for his circus.  Today visitors can still enjoy a circus style show complete with dancers, aerial acts, clown, acrobats, and contortionists.  The floor lowers and is filled to become a 700,000 gallon swimming pool for the synchronized swimming show.
Over the decades, the Hippodrome Circus saw a wide range of entertainment in the arena.  Water shows, cinema, variety shows and it even became a military shooting range during wartime.  Many famous names such as Lloyd George, Lily Langtry, Little Titch, Max Miller, and Harry Houdini have performed there. There is even a rumour that Charlie Chaplin once performed at this unique venue when he was a child.  For eight weeks each summer the circus returns to the Hippodrome in Jack and Peter Jay’s production.  2008 will mark the 27th year of circus performances at the site.  Rock’n’Roll shows, opera performances, wrestling and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have all performed there and it is a popular spot for filmmakers, video producers and photographers.
The famous swimming show at the Hippodrome circus is one of only four similar shows still left in the world.  Moscow and Blackpool still have synchronized swimming shows and Las Vegas recently introduced the fourth one on the Strip.
The Hippodrome Circus current schedule of performances is located on their website and it is recommended that visitors get their tickets early as they usually sell out quickly.