From John Cooper--Wereldkerstcircus, Theater Carre, Amsterdam.

There are far worse places to be than Theater Carre, that building having a significance in my circus-going history as it was the venue for my first circus outside of my native Britain. Since you're wondering, The Moscow State Circus (under the old regime) in August 1983.

A little more than 25 years later, there I was seated in the Gallery, more or less level with the flying trapeze rigging, so able to look down at the ring with a very clear view of what was happening.

Just 2 animal acts this season, both from the resources of Hungary's Circus Richter (which tends to play the Budapest area towards the end of October).

Opening the second half, Florian Richter riding double high-school - which may sound strange as he was the only rider. I shall explain. To start, Florian enters riding a Friesian with another Friesian in front on long reins. Thus the front horse is being guided by hand, whilst Florian's mount responds to body guidance. Each horse made the same movements at the same time.

For the second section, the rider dismounts and the horse he had been riding responds to directions given by Florian as he walks alongside, the lead horse having left the ring. It returns for the third element which sees Florian Roman-riding with a foot on each horse, the pair still performing the same procedures in unison.

Horses and rider were immaculately presented, the latter resplendent in white tail suit.

Closing the show was the Richter riding troupe, including Florian himself, who kept up the horses initially, although for the greater part of the act that task fell to his wife, Edith, her husband playing a full part in the riding. Tn male riders with up to six horses, 2 abreast. Much acrobatics on the horses, and a full act, although it seemed shorter than it had been when I saw it at Kronebau in Munich in 2006. Perhaps relevant that this was the first show of a 3 show day.

Stabling is inside the building, although there are some years when non-equine animals are quartered in the small area at the back of Carre. Manure goes in to a barge moored alongside that area.

Several other acts are known in America. The Russian bar act of The White Crow appeared in Circus Sarasota in 2007. Swiss juggler Kris Kremo was in the 2007-8 tour of The Big Apple Circus, as was hula hoop artiste Yelena Larkina (who is Mrs. Kremo). Italian ventriloquist Willer Nicolodi has also appeared with Big Apple. Here he worked in English, which will have been lost on some of the younger members of the audience, although most of his comedy comes from sounds rather than words.

And then there was Bello Nock, making what was effectively his European public debut, although he has appeared in festivals over here. I found him amusing rather than funny, but it must be said that comedy is my particular interest. What I did like was his attitude. he was enjoying his work - which is infectious. So many "stars" (and by no means just in circus) give the impression that they're doing the audience a favour just by being there. By himself. Hair already done. And he treated the driver as a fellow human being. It doesn't always happen.

As ever at Carre, a very enjoyable show, even taking into account that I've seen a lot of circus in my time, and, indeed, had seen virtually all of the acts before.

By the way, "Wereldkerstcircus" translates (roughly) as "World Christmas Circus".