If you are looking for something to do with the kids, then get the summer holidays off to a fun start at Cirque Surreal. Children will be fascinated by the amazing acts – not to mention mums and dads too.

Tickets may be a bit pricey but they are well worth it. Forget thoughts of a traditional, and often slightly tacky, circus of days gone by – Cirque Surreal is firmly in the 21st century.

The founders hoped to break away from tradition and, although the line-up still includes old favourites like the comedy clown, the whole show was innovative and exciting.

The 25 performers, drawn together from across the world, displayed remarkable skill.

Some people may remember them from the Sky One show Cirque de Celebrite – which was filmed in the Cirque Surreal big top.

The two-hour show whizzed by in a blur of breathing acrobatics, daredevil stunts, comedy and family fun.

Holding the show together was the endearing Ukrainian clown Housch Ma Housch, who speaks his own funny language of mostly nonsense. Despite not being able to understand most of what he said, he was a big hit with the audience.

Other audience favourites included Lui Jai Jai and Miao Chiang Wei performing the Oriental Swan, a breathtaking fusion of ballet, physical strength and acrobatics, and Ireland’s Jemile Martinez, whose act was an unlikely combination of football keepy-ups and juggling.

The final act of the night was the heart-stopping Bulgarian acrobats Nikolay and Konstadin who drew genuine gasps of amazement as they perilously leapt around on what can only be described as a giant hamster wheel, known as the Wheel of Death, spinning high above the floor. These two were worth the ticket price alone.