The thrills and spills of the circus are coming to Douglas Rugby Football Club at Port-e-Chee for five days starting today (Friday).

Gandey’s All Human Spectacular Thrill Circus will set up its big top in the field at the rugby club with daily performances.

It is almost 25 years since Gandey’s last visited the island and the show will include 30 award-winning artists from around the world.

These will include ’Rocket Man’ Pablo Garcia, from Germany, who will be performing high up in the roof of the 2,000 seater big top.

Pablo’s wife Vicky Pinder-Garcia, who performs with him, has a special interest in the island as her grandmother, Eileen Connor, was born here in 1906.

Eileen was the daughter of circus proprietor Fred Connor, who ran Connor’s Great Circus in the island.

The family had to take a break from the circus when the First World War started and their horses were requisitioned.

The family moved to Blackpool where they performed as an equestrian family act at Blackpool Tower Circus from 1916 to 1918.

Vicky is hoping to find any family members who are still living, or who are buried here, during her visit with the circus.

Other entertainers will include Cuban act Duo Bella, who will perform their unique hair-hanging aerial ballet above the audience.

Duo Siffolini, from Bulgaria, who will be on the giant Wheel of Death and there will be aerial acrobatics from The Serik Brothers, from Kazakhstan.

Central American act Las Chicas Morales will perform on the rolling globes and The Emilia Sisters, from the Caribbean with put on a gymnastic display.

Chico Rico, described as ’Europe’s favourite clown’, and ringmaster Binky Beaumont will also be adding to the entertainment.

There will be shows on Friday at 4.45pm and 7.30pm, Saturday at 2pm, 4.45pm and 7.30pm, Sunday at 2pm and 5pm, Monday at 2pm, 4.45pm and 7.30pm, and Tuesday at 4.45pm.

Ticket prices range from £12 to £36 with a family ticket priced at £70, which includes two adults and two children, or one adult and three children.

Tickets are available online at www.visitiom.co.uk/circus, at Richmond Travel in Strand Street, Douglas, or from the box office which will be open the rugby club site daily from 9.30am until 8pm.