Roll up! Roll up! The circus has come to town and it is setting its big top to entertain the crowds with daring acrobats, live music and hilarious clowns.

Ilford Recorder: The Netherlands National Circus will be coming to Wanstead Flats this weekendThe Netherlands National Circus will be coming to Wanstead Flats this weekend (Image: Archant)

The Netherlands National Circus has set up on Wanstead Flats in Epping Forest and will be here for this weekend only before they pack up and continue their tour of the UK.

This is the first time the Dutch show has crossed the channel in years and is hosting the return of circus royalty to the ring.

Yasmine Smart, the granddaughter of the world-famous British circus entrepreneur Billy Smart, is making her return as ring mistress for the first time in over 20 years.

As a teenager she performed with horses and when the ring master of her family’s circus fell sick she stepped in at just 14, making her one of the youngest and one of the first women to lead a circus.

Ilford Recorder: The Netherlands National Circus will be coming to Wanstead Flats this weekendThe Netherlands National Circus will be coming to Wanstead Flats this weekend (Image: Archant)

She has since travelled the world with her horses performing all over Europe and North America.

“It was a wonderful time travelling but now it is time to come back to England where I was born,” said Yasmine.

“Tony Hopkins, the director of this circus, thought it would be nice to bring the Dutch show back to Britain and I am happy to be part of it.”

The circus, despite hailing from Holland, has a huge international cast from all corners of the world including Spain, Ethiopia and America.

Ilford Recorder: The flying acrobats will wow crowds at the Netherlands National Circus on Wanstead FlatsThe flying acrobats will wow crowds at the Netherlands National Circus on Wanstead Flats (Image: Archant)

“We have a fantastic handstand act,” Yasmine explained.

“It’s three brothers who show such incredible strength getting into all these different positions – it’s very impressive.

“And our clowns are very funny and it can be hard to find a truly funny clown these days.”

The slapstick act, Jonny Bogino, entertains everyone in the crowd from young children to the older guests.

“It’s amazing that some people have never been to the circus before,” said Yasmine.

“As ring mistress I welcome the audience and say goodbye to them as they’re leaving and a 94-year-old man came up to me to tell me what a wonderful time he had here and he had never been before.

“Then of course you get the youngsters who marvel at the theatricality of it all.”

Since Yasmine’s childhood technology has advanced the big top quite considerably with lighting and other effects, although the Netherlands National Circus uses a live orchestra for its music which is not something that is usually done any more.

The audience can expect to see a fantastic flying act which mixes a trapeze and a swing and sees people zoom across the top of the tent while the “best illusionist [Yasmine] has seen” wows the crowds with his tricks and a contortionist breaks his body in mind-bending positions.

“Children ask me how they do it but I tell them it’s magic,” she said.

“Because the whole event is magical and everyone should come to see it.”

The Netherlands National Circus is at Wanstead Flats now and will be there until Monday so be sure not to miss out.

There are performances every day with two or three performances each day. Visit the website for more information on show times and to book tickets.

Tickets start at £9 for adults and £7 for children and can be booked at netherlandscircus.com