This CST activities page celebrates 'World Circus Day', which is on 16th April each year. Essentially it is a reminiscence based music and picture quiz, based on the circuses which we may have visited in our childhoods. Just to note because of this animal circus performers are mentioned, though today the practice of training animals for the circus is thankfully a distant memory.
Ask members what circuses did they visit as children?
What was their favourite act?
What memories do they have about the noise, smell and images of the inside of the 'Big Top'?
IDIOMS
Next ask members to complete these well known phrases together (by way of a shout out) ...
Ring MASTER
Lion TAMER
"I want to speak to the organ grinder, not the MONKEY!"
Fire EATER
Tightrope WALKER
Human CANNONBALL
All the fun of the FAIR
"And now for something completely DIFFERENT!"
Balancing or juggling ACT
Uni CYCLE
Tears of a CLOWN
Spit and SAWDUST
Crack the WHIP
Life is a juggling ACT
Keep all the plates SPINNING
Knife THROWER
Travelling CIRCUS
Circus TROUPE
Grease PAINT
Big TOP
Circus RING
First song ...
'The Man On The Flying Trapeze'
Anyone fancy a go? With or without a net?
Has anyone done anything as or even more daring?
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
Round 1. Circus Acts
Name the circus act ...
SONG. 'Nellie The Elephant', Mandy Miller - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsLKEn119WE&t=27s
Do Indian elephants have smaller or larger ears?
What do members think about the removal of animal acts from circuses?
Round 2. Famous Performers
Name the famous performers (several are famous for other reasons that performing) ...
VIDEO BREAK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5S_5RAWuaU
SONG. 'Tears Off A Clown', Smokey Robinson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcd9N62nOLg
Which other song about crying (tears) did he have a hit with in 1975?
Here it is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNS6D4hSQdA
Round 3. TV & Movies
'At The Circus', 1939 - Name the Marx Brothers
'Dumbo', 1941 - What was the name of his mouse friend?
'The Greatest Show On Earth', 1952 - Who starred as the Circus Manager?
Which type of Circus featured on Michael Bentine's 'Potty Time'?
Name the members of TV's 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'?
'The Elephant Man', 1980 - Who starred as John Merrick?
'Poltergeist', 1982 - What was the name of his sister, who disappeared into the TV?
Who played the part of 'The Joker' in the 1989 movie 'Batman' and the original 1970s TV series?
'It', 1990 - What was the name of the clown?
'The Greatest Showman', 2017 - Who starred as P.T. Barnum?
'Moulin Rouge', 2001 - Which two actors sang their hearts out in this movie?
How many songs can you recognise in this 'Moulin Rouge' 'Love Song Medley'?
VIDEO BREAK - 'Official UK Tour Trailer' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDovXbkfZlQ
Who starred in the stage show and 1986 movie 'Barnum'?
Round 4. Master Of Disguise
Name these famous 'clowns' ...
SONG. 'Send In The Clowns', Judy Collins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L6KGuTr9TI
Which Joni Mitchell song did she have a hit with in 1967?
Here it is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjPoWpkBzmM
SONG. 'Cathy's Clown', The Everly Bros. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_fkzaAEbQg
What was their first UK number one in 1958?
- 'All I Have To Do Is ...' - Here it is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbU3zdAgiX8
SONG. 'Fool On The Hill', The Beatles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3VeVwTa-bk
Complete these other song titles from this album:
- 'Your Mother Should ...'
- 'Hello, ...'
- 'Penny ...'
- 'All You Need Is ...'
- 'I Am The ...'
- 'Strawberry Fields ...'
SONG. 'The Greatest Day', Take That - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzMLGH1Rfs
Name the original members of 'Take That'?
- Gary ...
- Robbie ...
- Mark ...
- Howard ...
- Jason ...
For fans, here is their Greatest Hits 'Comic Relief Carpool Karaoke' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWmVN4dZZgE
AND FINALLY
SONG. 'This Is Me', Keala Settle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjxugyZCfuw
VIDEO BREAK
As this quiz has featured some elephants, I had to include this hilarious 'Blue Peter' clip to finish ..
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY
Have some fun with a parachute and some soft balls or balloons. The last few tracks could be used as music to sing along and move the parachute with.
Perhaps members could wear a red nose?
Or you could try:
- Juggling Balls
- Hula Hoop
- Spinning (plastic) Plates
- or Walking The Tightrope (a chalk line on the floor).
ANSWERS
Trapeze artist
Juggler
Acrobat
Contortionist
Lion tamer
Fire eater
Sword swallower
Knife thrower
Horse acrobat
Tightrope walker
Elephant trainer
Ringmaster
Indian elephants have smaller ears
Charlie Chaplin
Harry Houdini
Charlie Cairoli
Evil Knievel
Marcel Marceau
Debbie McGee & Paul Daniels
Penn & Teller
Ronald McDonald
Krusty The Clown ('The Simpsons')
Eddie Kidd
David Blaine
'Tracks Of My Tears'
Harpo, Groucho & Chico
Timothy
Charlton Heston
Flea circus
Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones & Terry Gilliam
John Hurt
Carol-Anne
Jack Nicholson & Cesar Romero
Pennywise
Hugh Jackman
Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman
'Your Song', Elton John, 'Heroes', David Bowie, 'Don't Leave Me This Way', Bronski Beat, 'I Was Made For Lovin' You', Kiss, 'One More Night', Phil Collins, 'Silly Love Songs', Wings, 'In The Name Of Love', U2, 'Up Where We Belong', Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes, 'All You Need Is Love', The Beatles & 'I Will Always Love You', Whitney Houston
Michael Crawford
Prince Harry
Morgan Freeman
Dustin Hoffman
George Clooney
Leonardo Di Caprio
Hugh Laurie
Rowan Atkinson
Robin Williams
Harrison Ford
Donald Trump
Boris Johnson
'Both Sides Now'
'All I Have To Do Is Dream'
- 'Your Mother Should KNOW'
- 'Hello, GOODBYE'
- 'Penny LANE'
- 'All You Need Is LOVE'
- 'I Am The WALRUS'
- 'Strawberry Fields FOREVER'
- Gary BARLOW
- Robbie WILLIAMS
- Mark OWEN
- Howard DONALD
- Jason ORANGE
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