'MARY Poppins goes to Vegas' will be part of a rock 'n' roll circus in Dorchester beginning today. (28)

Stefanie Usher, an act in Gerry Cottle's Rock Circus on a flying umbrella, will perform alongside other vibrant young performers against an infectious, non-stop rock and pop soundtrack.

The 26-year-old from Sandford got the idea for her act after giving out complementary umbrellas whilst working in a hairdresser.

She said: "When people left the hairdressers and it was raining we would give them a complimentary umbrella and it stuck in my mind.

"I then saw the BBC indent ad with four girls on silks and thought, I’d really love to do that."

Stefanie attended circus school and was taught circus skills by Gerry Cottle's daughter Polly.

I wanted to do something different and suddenly I thought ‘umbrella’ so I devised a complete original aerial act on a flying umbrella, it’s like Mary Poppins goes to Las Vegas'.

The circus will be driven by all our favourite music from the last 60 years accompanying an awe-inspiring line-up of the world’s greatest acts in circus, comedy and magic for live entertainment to thrill and astonish all ages.

From Romania, the hand balancing and trapeze skills of Mikal Ionescu who recently starred on Britain’s Got Talent.

From America and Holland, the comedy illusions of Scott and Mureil, Gold Clown Award winners from the Monte Carlo Circus Festival. From Africa, the whirlwind acrobatics of the Tanzanian Tornadoes, and from France, the hilarious comedy talents of Coreo Hazzard who juggles ping pong balls with his mouth and ends up inside a giant balloon.

Home-grown UK talent includes The Rockstars, a troupe of 10 hugely talented young performers led by Mike Comber and Ellen Ramsay who will astound with their unbelievable daredevil acts high in the roof of the big top, on unicycles, roller skates and juggling on the back of quad bikes as they roar around the stage.

And in another UK first, Gerry Cottle presents Magique with the Queens of Magic – girls with attitude showcasing their larger-than-life Las Vegas style illusions.

*Gerry Cottle's Rock Circus begins today and continues until Monday. Weekdays performances are at 3pm and 7.30pm and weekend performances are Saturday and Sunday at 2pm and 5pm. On Monday August 1 there is one performance at 3pm.

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