THIS winter, Proteus Theatre Company brings the circus to town with a new version of Grimm’s classic fairy tale, Rapunzel.

In their adaptation, Rapunzel, the star attraction of the Circus Persinette, performs her challenging trapeze acts three times a day to bring in the crowds.

It’s all fun at the fair until Rapunzel falls in love! When the possessive Ringmaster learns that his ‘little bird’ has feelings for new circus performer, Leo, he uses his strange magical powers to trap her in her gilded cage.

Mary Swan, Artistic Director for Proteus, said: “For the tenth year of my artistic collaborations with aerial choreographer Lorraine Moynehan, we decided it was time we put the circus at the centre of the show.

"Those familiar with the company's work in recent years will know we have used aerial skills in our shows for some time and we have worked hard to create the world of the story using the aerial work as a storytelling tool.

"However, we thought it was about time we shamelessly ran away to the circus, and so the concept for the piece was born.”

Join aerial artist Rapunzel and the other circus performers; a Lion Tamer with no lion, a Strongman with no confidence and a Medium with an out-of-control spirit guide, as they perform their beautiful, mesmerising, fearless and downright bizarre acts for audiences.

This is a story of love and loss, a show of wonder and daring and features a lot of very, very badly behaved hair!

Proteus welcomes returning actors Paul Huntley-Thomas (Frankenstein, Missing in Action and The Secret Garden) and Jodie Hoffmann (Houdini and The Little Mermaid) as well as new Proteus alumni Megan Brooks, Luke Francis and Kaveh Rahnama.

Kaveh brings with him a diverse range of skills as a circus practitioner and has helped to choreograph many of the physical sequences in the show.

Come and join the circus at:

Central Studio on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st November, 7pm. Box Office 01256 418 318 for tickets

Tadley Community Centre on Saturday 13th December, 4pm. Box Office 0118 981 4538

Old Basing Village Hall on Saturday 20th December 2pm & 7pm. Box Office 07969 072230

Rooksdown Community Centre on Sunday 21st December 4pm. Box Office 01256 869626

Oakridge Hall for All on Wednesday 7th January, 6.30pm. Box Office 01256 475844

Brookvale Village Hall, Sunday 11th January, 2.30pm. Box Office 01256 324313

Sherborne St John Village Hall on Saturday 17th January, 4pm. Box Office 01256 889730

The full tour schedule is online at www.proteustheatre.com.