Great British Circus back in Kuching with water-themed extravaganza

KUCHING (March 17): The renowned Great British Circus is set to return to Sarawak with a brand new themed production, promising a spectacular live experience for families and visitors.

According to Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Siri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the show will kick off its Sarawak leg in Kuching.

Running from March 20 until April 26, the tour will be taking place at the Celebration Square of Sarawak Sports Complex in Petra Jaya here.

The circus held its first Sarawak tour in 2024, which recorded some 40,000 spectators across Kuching, Sibu and Miri shows.

For this second edition, Bintulu is introduced as the fourth venue for the circus’ Sarawak leg.

“This year, they will start in Kuching and be running for one month before continuing the tour to other towns,” said Abdul Karim during a press conference at his office in Bangunan Baitulmakmur II in Petra Jaya here on Monday.

The state minister regarded the return of Great British Circus as reflecting Sarawak’s growing reputation as a destination for international arts and entertainment events.

“The live performances present a rare opportunity for our audiences, especially the children, to experience circus acts up close.

“Most of the time, we only see circus performances on television or videos. This is a good opportunity for families to bring their children and watch it live.”

Beyond entertainment, Abdul Karim pointed out that large-scale events such as the circus could also contribute positively to the local economy.

In relation to this, he said Sarawak’s tourism sector continued to show strong growth, with the state missing its target of five million visitors last year by just 20,000 arrivals.

“With this year being Visit Malaysia 2026, we are confident that Sarawak will not only reach, but surpass the five million visitor target that we have set over the past three years.”

The upcoming Great British Circus production, titled ‘Legend of the Sea’, will feature a host of shows including trapeze acts, contortionists, aerial acrobatics, dance and comedy, woven into a storyline involving sea creatures, pirates and a mythical pearl.

Circus founder Lord Kiril Yordanov Kirilov said the new show would feature a water-themed stage setup with advanced lighting effects and a specially constructed pool equipped with fountains and waterfalls.

“We have prepared something very special this time. It is a water show with a completely new story and new equipment,” he said.

Kirilov added that the larger circus tent had been designed to accommodate 800 spectators per show, ensuring more comfort for the audience.

Meanwhile, Abdul Karim encouraged those from the corporate sector to sponsor the tickets for underprivileged groups and those from charity institutions so that they too could enjoy the circus experience.

“Let us help those who are less fortunate. Please get in touch with our ministry and we can look into how the arrangement can be made.”

Tickets are priced between RM30 and RM150 per person. For more information, go to www.greatbritishcircus.com.

Also present at the press conference were deputy minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan and the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Sherrina Hussaini.