The new year’s here (in case you missed that) and, with it, a raft of circus embedded within the London International Mime Festival programme. First up (11-23rd) is the latest show from British pioneers Ockham’s RazorTipping Point, features several performers, an intimate ring, and a rather large pole. No, it’s not that sort of show. (Honestly, can’t take this lot anywhere. Ed).  

Belgian exports come in the form of BabaFish, who showcase the UK premiere of Expiry Date amid a set full of oddball mechanical contraptions (19-23rd), and Alexander Vantournhout and Bauke Lievens‘ minimal self-portrait ANECKXANDER (22-24th).

Dark Circusby Stereoptik, is something a little different – a magical conjuring of a big top universe from visual artists and live electro musicians (26-30th).

Prolific Aussie company Circa present their latest acrobatic spectacle The Return from 27-31st, and the festival continues into the first week of February with further circussy delight. If alternative clowning is your thing, there’s a whole lot of that in the programme as well, including the fabulous Al Seed’s award winning Oog (15-17th).

The other big London news is the annual Cirque Du Soleil residency at the Royal Albert Hall. This year’s show is one of CDS’s newest creations, Amalunaa tribute to the amazing power of women, hitting Britain for the first time on the 16th. It runs through till March, but the particular way CDS price their tickets mean that the prices are likely to hike the longer you leave it.

There are still a few days left to catch the big Christmas shows from Blackpool Tower (until 17th) and Great Yarmouth Hippodrome (until 10th), and theatres around the country will be experiencing visits from touring shows.

Circus of Horrors are midway through their 21st anniversary ‘Shocking All Over The World’ tour of CarnEvil, Cirque Berserk! are launching out of their Winter Wonderland season in Hyde Park into a national tour, and a return of Cirque De Glace sees theatres around the country transformed into ice rinks for Evolution, which promises to be a cross between figure skating and a Cirque Du Soleil style fantasy.

Shows aside, this month also hosts the annual Circus Reunion in Nottingham from 29-30th, and an open roundtable Circus Development Forum at the National Centre.

Believe it or not, next month the tenting season starts again for some of the country’s touring troupes. Until then, take it easy (and, as ever, let us know any events we missed in the comments!).