After Stratford they moved onto Northfield where a demonstration was held outside. Protesters were there to talk to members of the audience when they came out the first performance. Many people were visibly shocked at the way the animals were treated and some expressed disbelief that animals were still used in circuses. People going into the evening performance turned away when protesters told them of the cruelty.
This latest week Bobby Roberts have been in Wolverhampton where demos have been held on several evenings and protesters have never spoke to so many shocked audience members!
Sadly Bobby Roberts is not the only animal circus touring this country. Around 10 circuses continue to drag animals round from town to town. Those that often visit the Midlands include Zippos, Peter Jollys and Spirit of the Horse. Please be sure to boycott all of these if they come to your town and make sure you tell your friends and family to do the same. Also, why not write to your local paper, council etc and express your disbelief that this cruelty is still allowed to continue. Please let us know when you see posters for any animal circus, so we can organise a demonstration.
For more information about circuses please visit the website of the Captive Animals Protection Society www.captiveanimals.org
Stratford Standard - 31/3/04
HORRIFIED audiences claimed they looked on as circus performers whipped horses and caned an elephant in Stratford at the weekend.
The Bobby Roberts Circus, which rolled onto Stratford Racecourse last Thursday (March 18) until Sunday (March 21), was branded cruel and pointless by audiences and an animal rights group.
It is one of only a handful of animal circuses left in the UK and the only one to tour with elephants, according to the Captive Animals' Protection Society (CAPS), which receives more complaints about the Bobby Roberts Circus than any other.
One audience member, who does not want to be named, contacted The Standard to express her disgust and disbelief at the show.
The 47-year-old travelled from Coventry to watch the circus at the weekend and was shocked by what she called a blatant display of cruelty witnessed by scores of children.
"They were whipping the horses and ponies to make them perform pointless tricks - the audience were gasping in horror and shock," she told The Standard.
"The worst part was when they brought out an old elephant and starting hitting it with a cane just because it moved a couple of inches away from where it was supposed to be.
"It set a terrible example for all of the children watching. It was pointless and demeaning. If that is how they treat the animals in front of an audience I dread to think what happens in rehearsals," she added.
CAPS spokesperson Craig Redmond urged people to boycott the Bobby Roberts Circus in future.
He added: "Circuses can not provide all of the space and necessary requirements to guarantee the well-being of animals. The human performers can choose to be there, the animals have no choice."
No spokesman from Bobby Roberts Circus was available for comment as the Standard went to press.
On its website circus bosses deny any cruelty and claim audiences have endorsed the show as a positive symbol of live entertainment for more than 50 years.
The circus is a member of the Association of Circus Performers, which regularly inspects the welfare of the animals.
Stratford District Council said the circus did not need a licence to perform in the town but under new rules a public entertainments licence will be essential from next year.
The council says it has also forwarded a complaint to Warwickshire Trading Standards.