Cirque d’Compassion A Fun Family Day Out
| 26th July 2016
On Saturday 6th of August, a very special circus-themed, family fun day will be held at Chorlton Irish Club on behalf of a local animal charity, The Captive Animals’ Protection Society.
Cirque d’Compassion will be a fun filled day of fire performers, magicians, musicians, local arts and crafts stalls, vegetarian and vegan food, face painting and some fairground classic games like Hook a Duck and Tin Can Alley as well as a good old Lucky Dip. The event aims to focus on the human talents within circuses and invites families to come down, see the performances and learn a few circus skills.
Alongside activities and stalls, there will be the work of Manchester’s own artist and photographer, Paul Wolfgang-Webster, whose famous Made in the North exhibition featured in the National Portrait Gallery. Along with his family, Paul is one of the main organisers of this event and will be taking photos on the day for donations and selling his prints of a French all-human.
As Paul explains: “I have always been involved in animal rights and the welfare of animals. The captivity of animals for entertainment is appalling. I feel that a family fun day involving a working circus theme for the day with no animals teaches people we can live life in harmony with each other and all animals should be left to live in their own in a world without harm.”
Captive Animals’ Protection Society is based in Manchester and was set up in the 1950s by retired school teacher, Irene Heaton in response to the dozens of travelling circuses in the UK and the hundreds of animals they held captive, including elephants, lions, chimpanzees and bears.
The charity has continued to campaign to end the cruelty of animals being used in circuses, as CAPS’ Campaigns Director, Nicola O’Brien says: “Thanks to the changing attitudes of the public and the campaigning of animals welfare organisations, we now only have a handful of circuses with animals in England. However to bring it to a complete stop and prevent the return of animals like tigers and lions, we need a ban from Government. We have worked on this for years and will be lobbying the next Government to do this. This event is not about focusing on the negative sides to animal circuses, thought ~ it is about celebrating the human performers and showcasing the human talents that circuses hold.”
All money raised from Cirque d’Compassion will be going to CAPS to continue its work.
The event will run from 11am – 5pm at Chorlton Irish Club on the 6th August. Entry fees are £2 adults, 50p kids.
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