Circus tradition in the Baltic States
Before we even become to discuss the future of the circus in the Baltic states, lets have a look at how it all begun. So this time a brief insight into the history of the circus in the Baltic region.
LATVIA
“Rīgas Cirks” is one of the oldest circus in Europe. The “Rīgas Cirks” building was designed by one of the greatest architects Jānis Fridrihs Baumanis in the style of Art Nouveau and is now a listed building. Yes, Riga has had its own circus for 125 years.
Circus tradition in Latvia runs very deep. Already at the beginning of the 19th century there were the first guest performances, very soon after the birth of the circus in England. Around 1864, the first temporary wooden structure to house travelling troupes in the summer was built opposite “Vērmanes dārzs” park.
Though the real history of the “Rīgas Cirks” starts with the arrival of Albert Salamonsky, entrepreneur, circus artist with experience of circus management in Berlin and grand vision for the future, who had chosen Riga as the place of his next circus venue. He acquired the plot in 1878, but due to bureaucratic disagreements, the building works were delayed, in the mean time he finished the circus venues in Moscow and Odessa. At first, the circus venue building project for Riga was similar to the ones built earlier, but thanks to the delay, architect J.F. Baumanis used the advances in architecture field and the result was a much simpler and much more modern building. The circus building was finished in 1888 and at the time it was the first purpose built public entertainment venue in Riga. The newly built circus venue’s capacity was astonishing 1700! Aside from circus performances, they also hosted concerts and screened movies. The new venue offered a space for artist, encouraging the new local talent.
After the World War I, there were few travelling circus troupes that toured in the summer period.
It all changed with the World War II. With the arrival of USSR army “Rīgas Cirks” was nationalized and, until the 1991, the artist work and performances were supervised by USSR Ministry of Culture Circus Department. Circus was well supported by the government during this time, as this form of art was favoured by soviet government. “Rīgas Cirks” artists travelled around the USSR and many guest artists performed here. Professional education was available at StateCircusSchool in Moscow and for the youth there were circus studios, such as “Jaunība”.
Since 1991, after Latvia regained the independence, “Rīgas Cirks” is now under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. “Rīgas Cirks” can accommodate the audience of 1000 and offers 4 to 6 traditional shows a week, from September to May. In the summer season there is travelling circus “Allē”.
Among the Baltic states Latvia is the only one that has a stationary circus building, which plays an important role in giving opportunity for advancement and the potential for training of home grown artists, at the same time being a fantastic venue to host guest artist showcases.
LITHUANIA
Circus was and gone.
Lithuania has an old circus tradition. The first circus artists visited Kaunas in the middle of 19th century, but first stationary circus venue was built at the end of 19th century in Vilnius’ Lukiskiu Square. Many different touring troupes and first homegrown artists have performed there. But the real development of circus in Lithuania started after the World War I. During this time circus troupes toured the country and first trained circus animals appeared, although at this time the stationary circus building ceased to exist.
Longest existing circus troupe in Lithuania was “Vilnius” which started out under the name of “Cirkas Scenoje” in 1944, then continued as “Lietuviškas cirkas” before being renamed as “Vilnius”. It existed until the 1980’s. Interesting, that USSR Ministry of Culture Circus Department took this troupe under its wing only in 1950. After the troupe disassembled in the 1980’s, the artists were forced to look for jobs in other republics and after the fall of Soviet Union also abroad, many of them were left without any work at all.
In 1994, former “Vilnius” member Petras Variakojis established first circus in the newly independent Lithuania “Baltijos cirkas”. Today this is still the only professional circus troupe in the country. It has no subsidies from the state, but part of the income is derived by the various projects for the Ministry of Culture, the rest from the ticket sales. “Baltijos cirkas” does not have a home building, so the shows are performed in the tent, in the summer travelling across all of the Lithuania. Considering the 15 year long gap in circus life here, many of the troupes artists are foreigners.
So even though the circus in Lithuania arrived very early on, lack of stationary circus building and big gaps in circus activity did not strengthen this art form at the national level.
ESTONIA
Salamansky builds the circus in Tallinn and burns it down. Estonians are not getting their stationary circus venue.
First known circus performances in Estonia are after the World War I. At the time there were few foreign circus companies that travelled around the country with small circus tents. Estonian artists performed in “palagana” (specially constructed stationary wooden structures covered with fabric) and at the fairs. This kind of “palagana” could usually host between 50 to 100 people. Around 1930’s these kind of circus performances started to disappear, since any kind of building and construction work had to be coordinated with a city architect. Only few larger ones had managed to receive the permissions from the local town councils and had survived. The foreign circus troupes were also required to obtain a licence to perform in the country and only few successfully acquired these licences. In 1928, Farkar – Breckford Salamansky from Riga, built a wooden circus building in Tallinn. Circus soon went bankrupt, and the owner burned it down in order to claim the insurance.
1930’s were hard times for circus, most circus troupes went bankrupt, artists were left without work and income. Many went to work abroad to Finland.
Shortly before the World War II, Martin Kroll was travelling around with his circus tent. With the arrival of German Army performing was suspended. After the WWII The Martin Kroll’s circus tent was moved to the city centre and until 1950 it was run by “Tallinna Filharmoonia”. In 1951 USSR banned concert organisations from running circuses and Kroll’s circus was managed by “Rīgas Cirks” until the 1960’s. During this time they did build a temporary wooden circus venue.
Youth circus “Saade” was established in 1953. Six of the disciples later graduated the StateCircusSchool in Moscow, however, with the death of the founder Laila Ederland, circus disintegrated. Later, former disciples established two more circuses.
Years between 1985 and 1991 are considered to be the golden years for the youth circus in Estonia – at the time there were organised many festivals and training camps for young circus artists.
Circus in Estonia arrived later then in other Baltic states and it did not manage to root. All attempts to create a stationary circus suffered a failure. Estonia never had state subsidised circus, even during the Soviet Union. Last 50 years, circus in Estonia has been on the amateur and youth circus level.
Text author: Māra Pāvula
Photo: “Rīgas Cirks”
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