Circuses have long been hampered with the lack of trained animals, through the cruelty to animals groups. Now bureaucracy strikes another blow at circuses, at a time when laughter is needed more than ever, as the world reels from a financial disaster that is the worst in known history. Urgently needed professional clowns are left stranded in Europe through bureaucracy’s inefficient bungling.
In November, the United Kingdom’s immigration authorities set up a new points-based system, in an attempt to crack down on illegal immigrants. It was described on their website as a ‘significantly more straightforward and transparent structure’.
In the past foreign professional trapeze artists, acrobats and clowns were able to secure the requisite points for entry into England, based on their unique skills and ability. However, ringmasters are complaining that there are various problems with the new system, such as faulty computer software and embassy staff who are not properly trained in the new system. This is causing a lot of the desperately needed talent, for the new season in British circuses, are not reaching the big tops.
Martin Lacey, owner of the Great British Circus, says, “I’ve got comedy acrobats stranded in the Ukraine, horse riders who were refused their visas in Ulan Batur, Mongolia and a clown stuck in Mexico.” Lacey has been forced to draft last-minute substitutes. “We’ve got a trapeze artist pretending to be a stooge, just to get everybody out of trouble. It’s a mess.”
When things get tough, circuses have proven to be a way of helping people get through the bad times. Clowns in particular have assisted people to laugh at themselves, no matter how bad the circumstances are.
This all comes hard on the heels of the world economical disaster, when families need to make every cent count and ensure they are getting value for their money. Humour is a serious business, helping people to relate to the reality of life and clownless circuses are no laughing matter, as people pay for something they are not getting, because of bungling bureaucrats.
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Tags: bureaucracy’s inefficient bungling, circuses, circuses without clowns, stranded clowns
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March 8th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Children Bereft With Clownless Circuses…
Bureaucracy’s long reach wipes the smile off the professional clowns, as it leaves them stranded in Europe. Circuses in the UK are being forced to go clownless….