The University of Liverpool's Dr Eleanor Lybeck wrote and performed a new show as one of the highlights of Southport's spectacular two-day Big Top Festival this May Bank Holiday (2-3 May 2026).
The Big Top Festival commissioned Dr Lybeck's show 'Wild Laughter: Fun on the Prom' - a unique story about world-class touring comedian (and Dr Lybeck's great grandfather) Albert 'Jimmy the Jester' James, who worked with some of the biggest names in show business until his death in 1913.
Specially created for the festival by Dr Lybeck's company Sidelong Glance with CutToTheChase Productions, the show was a perfect way to capture the legacy of both his performances and of circus from the town all the way to the present day.
Dr Lybeck founded the production company Sidelong Glance in 2008 with a mission is to turn academic research into widely accessible theatre, performance and documentary film.
She said: "Big Top Festival presented me with a fantastic opportunity to bring to life my research into popular performance. It was wonderful to share Wild Laughter with such massive audiences across the weekend and appear alongside some world-class circus performers. Overall, the festival showed what a vital, and delightful, part culture might play in regenerating urban centres."
The Big Top Festival event, part of the Southport 2026 live events and cultural programme, also brought immersive street theatre and brilliant local performers such as Egg People and Seeing Doobla. Visitors experienced breathtaking acrobatics and daring aerial displays at the event comprising five performance stages across the town centre as it welcomed a line-up of acts from across the globe as well as Southport itself.
Organisers say the festival is rooted in the rich heritage of circus and clowning in the town, blending the nostalgia of classic circus with a bold, modern twist.
Photo credit: Mark McNulty
