Traditional circus was included in the statistics
The number of circus performances compiled in the statistics of 2007 was altogether 653 performances. The number has increased by 279 performances from 2006. Out of these 257 performances were brought to files by Sirkus Finlandia, which was included in the circus statistics now for the first time. Sirkus Finlandia’s tour around the country stayed at 130 localities in 2007.
The number of contemporary circus performances compiled in the statistics of 2007 was altogether 396 performances. Overlapping caused by reciprocal visits is taken into account in the figures.
Compared to the figures of the previous year the number of contemporary circus performances has increased by 6 %. In 2007 several new circus groups were included in the statistics. On the other hand, Finland’s biggest youth circus company Sorin Sirkus is not included in 2007. The year before they produced a tour which involved also professional circus artists and was therefore included in the statistics in 2006.
Overseas performances comprise two-thirds of Finnish contemporary circus attendance
The aggregate attendance of Finnish contemporary circus companies in the year of 2007 was 18 967 spectators in Finland and 40 577 spectators abroad. I.e. overseas performances comprise two-thirds of Finnish contemporary circus attendance.
During 2007, six Finnish circus companies visited a total of 23 countries. The number of overseas performances compared to the figures of the previous year show an increase of 113% (106 performances).
Most of the growth is due to an increase in the figures of Circo Aereo. Circo Aereo’s visiting performances grew by a number of 100 when totally the number of their performances was almost doubled (an increase of 90%) from the previous year.
The aggregate attendance of the circus performances was 279 544 spectators in 2007. Out of this traditional circus performances attracted 220 000 spectators. On an average comtemporary circus performances were watched by 150 spectators per performance. For traditional circus, the number is 856 spectators per performance.
The circus companies included in the statistics produced altogether 18 first premieres in 2007. Out of these, one was a joint production with a state subsidised major theatre. The number of first premieres compiled in statistics has quadrupled from the previous year.
Contemporary circus companies without state subsidy gave 45% of performances and they were watched by 47% of the total number of spectators in 2007. They also produced 12 first premieres (66%).