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Animals steal the spotlight at Holiday Circus

Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre comes to UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium Dec. 9
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Former Moscow Circus star Gregory Popovich leaves his regular Las Vegas show behind to tour his juggling, clown and pet tricks act for a special presentation of Holiday Circus Dec. 9 at the Farquhar Auditorium. (Photo submitted)

Some old dogs bring some new tricks to thrill the crowds at the University of Victoria’s Farquahar Auditorium this month.

Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre performs Holiday Circus at the Farquhar Dec. 9. Former Moscow Circus star Gregory Popovich leaves his regular Las Vegas show behind to tour his juggling, clown and pet tricks act for a special presentation of Holiday Circus. The show is a unique blend of physical comedy, world-champion juggling and the extraordinary talents of more than 30 performing pets including dogs, cats, goats, geese, parrots and a miniature horse.

The domestic animals used in the pet theatre were all rescued from animal shelters by Popovich, a fourth-generation Russian circus performer. Popovich customizes each of his pets’ onstage tricks to match their natural skills and tendencies.

“A message of my show is that animals are people too, and I try to bring attention to homeless pets,” said ” Popovich,” who has appeared on the David Letterman show with his cast of cats, dogs and birds.

The show features dogs answering math questions and riding scooters while cats push strollers and perform a ‘high-wire’ act, but the real thrills come from the show’s incredible circus feats, performed by both the human and creature cast of the show.

Holiday Circus is at the Farquhar Auditorium at 1 p.m. Dec. 9. Tickets are $38 for adults, $28 for students and $18 for children 12 and under, and available through the University Centre Ticket Centre, 250-721-8480 or ticket@uvic.ca.