Circus Piddly – Waterloo Millennium Green, London

It’s 255 years since the UK’s first circus was set up on a Thames-side site now housing St. Thomas’ Hospital. Just half a mile away, tented entertainment has returned to Lambeth courtesy of young entrepreneurs Sam Morley and Sam Goodburn. Their Circus Piddly ‘small top’ is the only travelling tent in the country small enough to squeeze through the gates of Waterloo’s Millennium Ground (alongside the Old Vic), and that with less than a handspan clearance.

The name might sound childish (arguably a good idea, given that this is a kids’ show as much as for grown-ups) and the ‘UK’s smallest travelling circus’ billing gimmicky, but Circus Piddly has way more heart, soul and hilarious creative content than these labels imply. No surprise, given the two Sams’ expertise and determination. Cheery engineering grad Sam Morley (Sam M here on in), now the Piddly ringmaster and producer, is a veteran touring lighting rigger for huge shows like Eric Clapton, Katie Perry and Glastonbury.

Sam Goodburn (Sam G), who has won awards for his knockabout comedy, takes on circus performance. Having turned clown to replace an absentee player back in 2014, he’s refined his skills and performed with acclaimed outfits like No Fit State Circus, appearing also on Britain’s Got Talent.

Bringing Piddly to the masses began on a Bristol backlot in 2022 when the Sams bonded over the pitching of a big top in freezing conditions. Finding a shared passion for cosy comedy circus, they bought a Czech tent and French seating and devised their intimate yet risky show where every audience member is no more than eight metres from the action. Having trialled Piddly in Sam M’s Wiltshire hometown of Calne in September 2024 and received rapturous audience feedback (“Life-affirming silliness.”), Sam & Sam decided to take it on tour.

The show begins in the expectant and happening queue. Sam G, looking like a techie in his red overalls and bobble hat, fools around with duct tape on top of the tent, then whips out a long pole and practices his tightrope walking. There’s also much throwing and catching of biscuits with the queuers: “They’re good for you!” There are LOTS of biscuits in the show, part of a commitment to “pure high-end stupidity”. Crew members hawk popcorn and candy floss, mucking with about giant sacks of the stuff.

The red and white tent, about the size of a two-bed bungalow, fills up quickly on banks of tiered wooden bench seating. Bringing a cushion or folded jacket for comfort would be wise, although there’s not too much numbing to contend with in an hour-long show, and almost overwhelming distraction.

Sam G, lanky and speccy, like a careening, pratfalling mix of Buddy Holly and Spud from Trainspotting, is most of the first half. His repeated failing/crashing, lending him an appealing vulnerability, brings everyone onside. Feigning fear – “Is this safe?” – Sam G is egged on by the top-hatted, Taskmasterish Sam M – “It’s super safe.” – and attempts wilder and riskier tricks, while urging the audience to provide tension-ratcheting crescendo vocals.

There’s raucous laughter, heartfelt applause, and genuine knuckle-biting fear as Sam G makes merry with juggling (axes, flaming torches, knives), unicycling, ‘high wire’ walking and custard cream eating, sometimes all at once, and while being attacked by a vacuum cleaner.

Audience participation takes place regularly and often. Sam G manages to quell the qualms of people he’s grabbed from the crowd and has them doing genuinely tricky feats involving unicycling and biscuits. The stunts frequently go (safely) wrong, but all this adds to the fun. Some of the biggest roars of applause go to audience members who keep failing, then succeed. One of the most endearing things about Sam G is the way he builds rapport with the kids, empowers them – they’re handed buttons to press that activate him – and reassures them: “Anything you say is cool.”

Having Sam G carrying much of the show does become a bit repetitive. But this imbalance is being addressed with other players, including excellent contortionistic foot juggler Rosa Antio and Tom Goddard on sax. Further support acts will no doubt follow. The show’s continuity and flow will also benefit as Sam M’s emceeing confidence and patter increases: it’s clear that he has much more to offer as a performer.

Inventive, engaging, bedazzling and relentlessly funny, Circus Piddly offers rapid-fire, family-wide entertainment. Its intimate hundred-odd-seater tent guarantees that every seat is ringside, with panoramic views for toddlers upwards. And commendably piddly pricing makes it extra accessible.

Judging by the queues outside their mini venue on London Premiere night, Piddly’s promotional efforts (plus enthusiastic word-of-mouth) have been effective. This is a ‘I saw them when they were starting out’ moment. Finding seats in future may be tricky: book now, in London and further afield.

Runsuntil15 June 2025 and continues to tour