Description of the attraction
The Belarusian State Circus is one of the most famous circuses in the world. The modern building of the circus is located in Minsk on Independence Avenue.
The first mention of a professional circus in Minsk dates back to 1853, when a circus-tent by Karl Ginne, who came on tour from Austria, was opened in the Trinity Suburb. Of course, up to this moment, there were other circus shows in Minsk, but they were not remembered and did not go down in history.
The first stationary circus building appeared in Minsk in 1884. It was a wooden circus built by order of Pyotr Nikitin, one of the famous circus performers of the Nikitin brothers. However, the first circus did not last long. It had to be postponed due to the outrage of the Christian clergy, who believed that the entertainment facility was built too close to the temple. The circus building was out of place everywhere, causing the indignation of the priests and the "decent" public. The circus was considered a frivolous and almost obscene institution, because the circus girls performed too little dressed by the standards of that time.
The attitude towards circus art changed with the advent of Soviet power. Realizing the importance of organizing cultural leisure, especially entertainment for children, in 1930 the Minsk authorities decided to build a stationary circus building in the City Garden (now the Gorky Park). The circus was designed for 1200 seats.
In the very first days of the war, an aerial bomb hit the circus. A terrible fire started. Trained animals in the circus building were injured. However, the artists and surviving animals were evacuated first to Moscow, then to the deep rear, where the circus troupe gave performances, encouraging Soviet soldiers leaving for the front.
Immediately after the war, in 1946, the circus building was restored in its original place and in its former form. Residents of the city of Orel helped Minsk in this. The circus was headed by the same director who headed it before the war B. E. Kabischer.
In 1952, the USSR government decided to build stationary circuses throughout the country. Construction of a circus began in Minsk. The circus was built by the whole country, every city and plant helped as much as they could. Thus, the chandeliers for the Minsk Circus were made at the Moscow Electrozavod.
The first performance in the new circus building, which could accommodate 1668 spectators, took place on January 31, 1959 and was timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Byelorussian SSR. Permanent director of the Belarusian circus B. E. Kabischer died immediately after the opening of a new circus building, putting all his energies on the creation and development of the Belarusian circus art. He died as a true circus performer - at a rehearsal in an auditorium chair.
Unfortunately, all buildings are dilapidated from constant use. In 2008, it was decided to close the building of the Minsk circus for reconstruction, but already on December 3, 2010, the circus was reopened after reconstruction. Despite the fact that the circus was completely rebuilt, the impression of an old, kind, the same circus is created. The entire building, interior decoration, bas-reliefs, chandeliers are designed in the style of the 50s of the last century. The interior is designed in green tones.
After the reconstruction, the Minsk Circus was equipped with the latest modern technology. It has become much more comfortable for both artists and spectators, and allows organizing performances in all modern circus genres, including water and ice performances.
New sculptures were installed near the entrance to the circus: a horsewoman, clowns and a pyramid of animals.
On the top floor there is a museum of the Belarusian State Circus.
