Whispers have reached our ears that a cavalcade of performers, acrobats and musicians have begun to pack up their instruments, tightropes and mechanical contraptions, in preparation for a trip to the Lost Carnival, taking place in Bury on May 22/23/24/25.

Helping the characters of the show to save it from disappearing forever, these incredible spectacles will be joining sideshow acts including the bearded lady, Claire V’oyant and the Fear Eater.

WORLD PREMIERE: The Marie Celestial is a giant, walking Pan-Galactic Circus Beast. Focused around a massive, beating iron heart it mutates with mechanical transformations, pyrotechnic effects, dynamically changing light and sound and is accompanied by a cast performing aerial circus, acrobatics, dance, theatre and percussion both on board the moving structure and on the ground. Co-commissioned by the Northern Festivals Network it premieres at The Lost Carnival before going to Glastonbury, Kendal Calling, Just So Festival, Shambala, Festival No. 6 & Ramsbottom Festival.

The Baghdaddies are preparing their wild Balkan music, with Middle Eastern rhythms and even some Geordie touches. Uplifting and infectiously danceable, full of blistering brass, rousing 5 part vocal harmonies and a rhythm section that you can’t keep still to.

Travelling Light Circus’ Pendulum Wave Machine combines technical wizardry with the genius of a Victorian scientist, to create an unforgettable feast for 21st century eyes.

Mufti Does Games’ L_ve Hangman is an interactive installation, fresh from The Barbican, reimagining the classic game as a macabre life-sized sideshow.

Surreal swing band Rum Buffalo feed off the rich antique roots of western swing and moody blues infiltrated with other styles like rhumba, bossa nova and give theatrical vaudeville style performances.

Lost In Translation Circus will be tumbling through the carnival and flying through the air. They take inspiration from their name and focus on combining high level circus skills with theatre, narrative, movement and live music.

An ambitious, large-scale, outdoor experience from Wild Rumpus, producers of the award-winning Just So Festival, and So It Is, a new producing company established by Bury Met director David Agnew, The Lost Carnival is an immersive theatre experience that invites families to step into a world unlike any other. 

Families can expect spellbinding theatre, circus, music and visual trickery. The most enchanting carnival in the world, suddenly stopped touring in its heyday, under suspicious and mysterious circumstances. The carnival is coming back, but can the family audience help it to ward off past dangers and bring it back to its former glory?

The Lost Carnival will appear in Burrs Country Park in Bury on the evenings of 22/23/24/25 May 2015. The carnival will be open from 4-9pm, with the audience entering on timed tickets. Tickets cost £10 per person (under 3s go free). Carnival goers should dress for the weather, and wear sturdy shoes. Tickets are available at www.thelostcarnival.org.uk.

Rowan Hoban, Wild Rumpus director said “we’ve heard whispers for many years of a Lost Carnival, and have often hoped that it might reappear in our lifetime. News that it will be in Bury in May 2015 is just wonderful. The Carnival may be in danger though, so we’re asking families to keep their ears to the ground. Time is of the Essence.”

To keep up to date with news of the Lost Carnival, visit www.thelostcarnival.org.uk or follow @_wildrumpus #thelostcarnival