The lights dim, a spotlight points at the top of one of the stands, and a woman emerges from under a cloak. She somersaults down the stairs, landing gracefully in the ring.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls! Thank you for coming, I can see we have a tremendous crowd here tonight in the Big Top in Nottingham. But first, raise the roof and raise your eyes to the skies for Martina and Mauritio!"

The spotlights shift over to a high platform, where the trapeze artists begin their act