From the moment the Edwardian seaside crowds first filed through its doors in 1903, the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth has stood as a living testament to the magic of the traditional circus. Conceived and built by the showman George Gilbert and designed by engineer-architect Ralph Scott Cockrill, the Hippodrome was one of the first purpose-built, permanent circus buildings in England, rising in brick and terracotta with art-nouveau and art-deco flourishes, at a time when seaside resorts were at the height of their popularity. Its façade—with ornate terracotta, towering arches and relief detail—settled into the town’s cultural heart, drawing visitors from far beyond the Norfolk coast.
Inside, the air buzzes with acrobats, clowns, equestrians and singers, but unlike any ordinary circus, the Hippodrome’s ring holds a secret. Beneath the sawdust floor lays a mechanical magic: with a dramatic descent of the wooden ring, the space can be transformed into a deep pool for water spectacle shows—a theatrical flourish that has made the building world-famous. This rare feature—the only such sinking-ring water stage still operating in the world—allows aquatic dances, synchronized swimming and fountain displays as climactic parts of the performance, blending circus artistry with the dramatic choreography of water and light.
Across the decades the Hippodrome survived wars, changing tastes and even the decline of traditional big-top circuses. In 1979 it was rescued from decline by Peter Jay, who restored the water spectacle in 1981 and established a rhythm of seasonal Circus Spectaculars that continue to this day under the management of the Jay family. An extraordinary and multi-talented show business family. Audiences now flock not just for classic circus acts but for lavish productions—Pirates Live, Halloween Spooktacular and the much-loved Christmas Spectacular—where international performers, daredevil acrobats and the iconic water show converge in a uniquely immersive experience.
Over a century after its opening, the Hippodrome remains not just a building but a living piece of performance history—Britain’s only surviving total circus theatre still dedicated to its original purpose, and one of the world’s most unusual stages where land, sea and spectacle meet under one roof.
I first went to the circus at the Hippodrome 70 years ago, and more recently attended with our children and then grandchildren. The Hippodrome is a keystone for a fun filled Christmas!
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