The circus in its modern form is 250 years old and artistes are still delighting members of their public with feats of strength, dexterity or pure courage.
Whether extricating yourself from a bottle, flying through the air or playing with fire, the ring is still a place for performers to defy the usual laws of physics and entertain the public.
The Cirque Berserk showed off some mind-boggling manoeuvres during a visit to the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh.
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