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Raree Show days (I will try to clean up these old pictures)
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I ran away from my naff job, to try to join Le Grand Magic Circus in
Paris, did one
show but got left behind, which was heart-breaking. Shortly after I got back to
the UK, even more determined to perform for a living, I was found juggling at the Oval
House by Crissie Trigger, who ran The Raree Show with her husband, John.
I suddenly had gigs to do - from housing estates in Liverpool, to tours in Sweden and Germany; musical instruments to play with, makeup to learn, people to encourage me. It was a very turbulent time, but I learned a lot. The photo at right is probably in a break at the Covent Garden Hat Fair (1974). I did solo stuff there, as well as gigs with the Rarees. Recently I found a charming little article about it, by Gerard Benson, for the New Statesman.
Crissie and I used to do acrobatics and juggling, George Isherwood and I alternated in the gorilla costume as gentle Gloria (although on hot days the skin sometimes smelled like the Borneo jungle!) - Jules was an undisciplined but very funny presence, whether in his Chaplin persona, or in drag. A lot of other performers came and went...great times! We also ran workshops for kids, in the various circus skills.
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