Ringside! Lambeth, Astley’s and the birth of British Circus exhibition in Lambeth Archives

A new exhibition, RINGSIDE! uses posters, documents and illustrations from Lambeth Archives’ rich collections to bring Astley’s back to life. It also features Astley’s local competitors – including Vauxhall Gardens, the Canterbury Hall and the Royal Circus – whose combined attractions made Lambeth an exciting entertainment destination for Vicorian Londoners.

Circus families

The exhibition features not only material from Lambeth Archives’ collection but also a wonderful selection of photographs and objects, curated by Charlie Holland, of some of the many circus families who lived in the borough and became globally famous in the late-Victorian and Edwardian eras: acts like the acrobatic Craggs, the juggler Paul Cinquevalli, the Mongador Brothers and the aerial Hanlon-Volta troupe.

Also featured are the later travelling circuses such as Sanger’s and Smart’s who would pitch on Clapham and Streatham Commons, to be followed in the 1980s by their “New Circus” successors performing physical theatre without animal acts: companies like Archaos, Circus Burlesque and Ra-Ra Zoo.

Word from the Cabinet

Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said: “This exhibition tells the story not only of how Lambeth is the birthplace of a long tradition of entertainment for the people, but also of the artists, and families of artists, who lived in Lambeth but exported their talent and became internationally famous performers.”

Exhibition details

Open free from 3 March to 12 April

Lambeth Archives, 16 Brixton Hill, SW2 1ET

See website for opening times

Curators’ talks