"White lions of Africa"

The history of the Nizhny Novgorod circus is eventfull; its origins go back to the distant past. In many literary sources one can find references to circus lactors, grandfathers-barkers, strolling acrobats, guide bears and other initiators of circus art.

In summer 1879 the brothers Peter and AkimNikitin arrived in Nizhny Novgorod. They got permission to start building a booth. And the merit of creating the first Russian professional and constantly operating circus belongs to Nikitins’ brothers of course. Even then the first Russian circus rose to the level with the largest foreign enterprises. In 1813 at the Makaryevskaya Fair, in addition to the theater, the circus was opened every year in the Luboks' booth ("Hunters before the horse race"): "Everyone went there! There was a rider from ItalyKirian by name. The theater did not take away her revenues. Many people managed to look at both the Fair and the Circus. And the arena was also full. "Theyshowed bears on bring, camels, monkeys in the same place and here buffoons danced, dancers on a rope.

In 1817 at the Nizhny Novgorod fair there was a circus-show where jugglers, dancers, Sergach bear-holders, dancers on ropes performed.

In 1879 Petr Nikitin - a petty bourgeois - received a place for a circus of 2,000 sq.sazhen in Staro-Samakatnaya Square from the Nizhny Novgorod Fair Office where he set a booth and gave first circus performance.

Having saved up the money the Nikitins started building a wooden stationary circus in Nizhny Novgorod. And on July 28, 1883 the first performance took place.

Extract from the newspaper "NizhegorodskayaYarmarka" No. 15, dated July 29, 1883: "Yesterday, on the 28th of July, the circus of the Nikitin brothers was opened; its building and finishing, if you take into account the shortness of the season, are not bad enough.The circus is quite extensive, the seats are comfortable. As far as the performers are concerned they do not leave much to be desired for the fairground circus: there are wonderful men riders and women riders, excellently trained horses and good clowns. "Later, in connection with the growth of Nizhny Novgorod, there was a need to expand the circus. And the Nikitins’ began construction of a stone stationary circus, which received the first audience on July 26, 1886. It was the first stone building of the Nikitin Circus in Russia - in Nizhny Novgorod - a building for 2000 spectators.

Extract from the newspaper "NizhegorodskayaYarmarka" No. 6, dated July 20, 1887: "A large, luxuriously arranged, stone circus by Nikitins’ brothers. ... a great performance with a troupe of first-class artists and corps de ballet; there are up to 100 persons and 80 horses in the troupe. The circus building, for the first time in Russia, is illuminated by electric incandescent lamps and large lanterns. Director - V.Sur, Directors–Nikitins’ brothers. "

Since 1883 all great artists worked in Nizhny Novgorod: Ciniselli, Truzzi, Solomonsky, Gamsakhurdia, Krasilnikov, Nikitin, etc., as well as many foreign circuses. In 1923, the Nizhny Novgorod Circus of the Nikitin Brothers was placed under the control of the Central Office of State Circuses and became the third state circus in the country. In 1925 the building burned down. August 5, 1926 in the working area of Kanavino, there was an opening of a new circus - one of the largest in the USSR.

A new important period in the history of the Nizhny Novgorod Circus was the commencement of the operation on April 21, 1964 of a new stone building for 1,719 seats. From the very beginning a great creative and organizational work was conducted here headed by I. Marinin.

May 27, 1984 in the old (Gorky) circus was held a circus performance dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Gorky-Nizhny Novgorod circus. After the performance the circus was closed for reconstruction. The director of the jubilee performance with the closing act "Elephants and Tigers" was HonouredArtist of the Russia MstislavZapashny. Symbolical key from the new circus M. Zapashny passed the director of the circus Marina Marinina with the words "We will open it soon". At the last performance, at the closing of the old circus the citizens of Nizhny Novgorod gathered with a special feeling of hope for an early meeting.

The reconstruction process was successfully launched, but its course was interrupted by a change in the political situation in the country. For 23 years Nizhny Novgorod citizens lost quality and highly artistic performances.

On September 1, 2007 Nizhny Novgorod became the city of Russia which opened the largest circus complex in Europe. 23 years citizens of Nizhny Novgorod waited for this grandiose event.

Today the Nizhny Novgorod Circus is a huge complex occupying an area of 30 thousand square meters. In the circus there is a large stable for 37 stalls, separate rooms for sea animals, predators, elephants, dogs, monkeys, a large modern veterinary clinic, a household courtyard for motor vehicles where one can unload animals under the roof and under any weather conditions.

The Nizhny Novgorod Circus is designed for 2000 seats, special places for wheelchair users are provided. Lighting, sound, film projection, laser projection, video surveillance system meet the latest requirements. One of the most complicated elements of the circus was a spectacular retractable ladder that connects the stage with a large arena. In Nizhny Novgorod State Circus everything has been taken into account that visitors may need to fully appreciate the circus performance!