The Hour

Veteran Russian clown couple Valik and Valerik have arrived in Scotland as part of the Moscow State Circus, but today they escaped the circus to perform a special routine on The Hour.

The duo have been spreading the magic for 20 years, and like any good fairy tale they have fallen in love, married, and now have a 12-year-old child called Sacha. Parenthood hasn’t slowed them down, however, as they return this year in Babushkin Sekret.

The show is inspired by the legend of the 12 chairs, which tells the story of a lowly desk clerk living in Soviet Russia in 1927. He finds out from dying grandmother that he is a member of the nobility, with the family’s fortune hidden in 12 chairs from their dining room set.

Unfortunately the chairs, along with the rest of the family’s property, has been confiscated during the Russian Revolution.

With Valerik in the role of the clerk and Valik has his trusted sidekick, the pair set off on an adventure to reclaim their lost fortune. Joining them along the way are circus classics like jugglers, acrobats and high wire artists.

Yet clowning around isn’t Valerik’s only past time. He is also the proud owner of 86 different musical instruments, and hopes to soon add bagpipes to his collection.

To see more of the clowns, the Moscow State Circus will be performing at Aberdeen's Queen's Links from July 21 to Agust 1. After that they can be found at Dundee's Riverside Park from August 3 to 7, and Edinburgh's Ocean Terminal from August 9 to 21. Visit their website for more details.