‘FROM WAR TORN UKRAINE TO A CIRCUS RING IN BAKEWELL’

Circus Cortex has the largest percentage of Ukrainian cast members of any Circus in the UK, 16 in total, all of which have been successfully brought to the UK under the 'Homes for Ukraine scheme. They all would like a chance to share their story.

Each and every one of them has spent the last 3 months hiding from Russian forces, seeking shelter from bombs going off, going days without proper food or sleep and walking through the night in the hope that they could reach safety.

We are a very unique circus. We would love an opportunity to share our story

‘BEHIND THE SMILES’

Circus artiste ‘Tetiana Lotiuk’ was caught in Kharkov when the war broke out. Separated from friends and family for nearly 3 months, she left the bombings and travelled for days going without sleep and food to reach the safety of Circus Cortex.

"I decided that I could be killed on the first day of the war, I accepted it. it can happen I just accepted it, like I was living everyday just hoping to wake up tomorrow"

Speaking of her home country Tetiana said, " it's quite hard to go on stage and to have a big happy smile and entertain people because my mind is of those in Ukraine and so is my heart "

‘Tetiana Lotiuk’