Acts and Artists
The Festival of Wonder is delighted to welcome acts and artists from across Europe and the Five Valleys to this year’s Festival weekend.
Maksym Korbun has over 10 years experience performing in international, world class shows.
In 2023 he was part of Duo Odyssey and became the first ever Aerial Duo to reach the final of Britain Got Talent.
Performing in The Snow Globe on Friday and Saturday
Claire et Antho were discovered in France Got Talent with their concept of perspective and dance hand shadow. They quickly amassed a huge Instagram following which now stands at over 119,000 and began to receive invites to many talent and TV shows across the world!
Claire and Anthony combine dance, physical theatre and live visual effects to tell stories and immerse the audience in their emotions. It’s funny, moving, and poetic.
Performing in The Snow Globe on Friday and Saturday
Viktor Vasiliev was born in Moscow, beginning his musical education at the Moscow Boys’ Choir Chapel, where he was influenced by classical composers such as Mozart, Weber and Britten. During his childhood, he travelled with his father, clown Konstantin Vasiliev, and participated in E.T. Kio’s illusion show.
In 1968, Viktor started working as an assistant in Igor Kio’s illusion show, where he honed his juggling skills with hats on a unicycle. By 1970, he was officially part of the circus as an original juggler.
Viktor has since performed in various renowned venues and festivals across Europe, including the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, Cirque Pinder, and the Kremlin Congress Palace in Moscow.
Performing in The Snow Globe on Friday and Saturday and Circus of the Soul on Sunday
Jo Enright is an award winning stand-up comedian and actress who has appeared in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, The Job Lot, Life’s Too Short and After Life. For more than a decade Jo Enright has worked with many of the UK’s leading comedy writers and directors. As a regular collaborator with Ricky Gervais and Peter Kay Jo has starred on numerous Netflix, HBO, BBC, ITV and Channel 4 productions. Amongst other performances Jo has recently appeared in Ricky Gervais’ 2022 Netflix smash hit After Life, Guz Khan’s Man Like Mobeen, Peter Kay’s much loved Phoenix Nights and Steve Coogan’s I’m Alan Partridge.
Jo received rave reviews for playing the female lead Sue in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s HBO series Life’s Too Short, and the part of Angela in three series of the ITV and Netflix’s The Job Lot.
Performing at the Gala on Friday only.
Viktorija Sibakovskyte was born in Vilnius, Lithuania and trained in ballet at M.K. Ciurlionio School of Arts and the Central School of Ballet in London. She has performed with the Croatian National Ballet Theatre, Imperial Russian Ballet, Royal Opera House, and Let’s All Dance. Viktorija has taken leading roles in The Nutcracker, The Princess and the Frog, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland and The Owl and the Pussycat.
In 2019, Viktorija transitioned from ballet to circus arts, becoming an aerialist, contortionist, and dancer. She has since performed at Maxx Royal Resorts, West End Musical Brunch, and the London Cabaret Club. Viktoria is part of the aerial duo Celestial Pas De Deux, performing on Norwegian Cruise Lines with their 45mins duet show Memory. She has now joined with Maks Korbun for the Festival of Wonder performing as Duo Odyssey.
Performing in The Snow Globe on Friday and Saturday
School of Larks, now in it’s 10th year! Is a local circus school offering over 20 weekly classes in aerial arts and circus skills.
We provide an accessible environment for all ages and abilities to train and empower their own creativity. You’re never too old to run away with the circus!
We have a highly skilled team who deliver our classes, events, holiday workshops and performances. To find out more please visit our website: School of Larks or email info@schooloflarks.com to join one of our free taster classes.
Performing on Saturday and Sunday
Phoenix Choir is a non audition, non profit- making choir who meets together once a week to create concerts often spear-heading new and upcoming composers.
Our children’s choir also rehearse once a week and join Phoenix to be a part of the big concerts but also give smaller concerts in their own right.
The key that binds us all together is a love of music, creating beautiful and new sounds and sharing a musical experience with the audience which is both uplifting and inspiring, and something everyone can be a part of.
Performing on Sunday
Tatiana Ozhiganova is an aerial gymnast, set-costume designer and art director who started her professional career at age 16 as an aerial performer after a degree in Dance Academy. With her strap act she has performed in some of the world’s most famous circuses such as Conelli (Zurich) and the Great Moscow circus. She won a gold prize at the International Circus Festival in Ukraine, silver prize at the International Circus Festival in Spain and silver prize at the International Circus Festival in France. She has performed on national TV, notably on the Paul O’Grady Show, was part of Britain’s Got Talent, and has worked on a Take That tour.
She has also performed with Stroud’s own Giffords Circus. As a costume designer Tatiana has worked as a fashion designer on Lambertz Fashion Monday Night in Germany, was set and costume designer for the circus ‘Cortex’ UK, performs regularly at the London cabaret club and has worked on MSC cruise ships.
Performing on Sunday
Lara is an international actress, clown and comedian specialising in physical theatre. She originates from Moscow and has worked with a huge number of international circus and theatres.
Thomas Trilby is an experienced international performer who mixes skills and comedy to entertain and amaze the whole family. From Birmingham to Bahrain and Cardiff to Cairo he has thrilled and engaged all ages!
Thomas Trilby’s family show is a fast moving hybrid of skills (juggling, plate spinning, diabolo and hat tricks) mixed with improvised comedy, audience interaction, plenty of silliness, some moments that will make you gasp in amazement and times you will groan at just how terrible his puns are. On his stilts he engages and interacts with ‘high level’ juggling skills!
Performing on Saturday
The Magnificent Mr. Kai is a Stroud local who has been a keen juggler and entertainer for 15 years, working with children and adults around Gloucestershire as a performer and workshop leader.
His performance style draws a lot of inspiration from stand-up comedy rather than traditional circus acts. Kai is always looking for new ways to involve the audience in his shows as he finds the best jokes come from improvised audience interaction rather than scripted lines.
Performing on Saturday and Sunday
Ambitions Dance This Gloucestershire based youth dance troupe will be performing their exuberant street dance guaranteed to inspire every young person who ever wanted to learn to dance. Come see what can be achieved.
Performing on Saturday
The Stroud Folk Choir is a vibrant community group, known for its inclusive and joyful approach to singing folk music. The choir brings together people of all ages and abilities, celebrating traditional and contemporary folk songs from the UK and beyond
Performing on Saturday
The Raga Babas
Join Rev Simon & friends to wind-down at the close of the festival day. With quiet reflective community songs of faith and wonder.
Performing on Saturday Evening
Bill Crooks
Bill works in International Development and specialises in supporting programmes on anti-human trafficking and modern slavery. He is also a community artist and is passionate about kite making and decorating as a way of help enabling individuals and families who are living in challenging situations to express hope.
The kite display is produced by young people in the Stroud area and seeks reflect their hopes and dreams as well the joy of being creative. Bill has worked with young people from Sudan, Afghanistan Ethiopia, Syria, Lebanon and many other countries and cultures to produce similar kites.
Bill joins us on Sunday Morning