Think you know circus? Then think again. Pirates of the Carabina are bringing their international hit Flown to the Minack Theatre from April 27 to 29 to make your imaginations fly and your hearts race.

Known for their daring and beautifully choreographed aerial theatre performances, Pirates of the Carabina comprise 11 acrobats, aerialists, musicians and stuntmen from around the world; and Flown tells the tale of this motley crew trying to get their show up and running.

But things don’t always go to plan! No one is quite prepared, and mishaps, disasters and disagreements threaten to sabotage the show. A flying aerialist is still ironing her dress, the stage-hand gets tangled up in the rigging, the guitarist flies just a little too high, and is that one of the stuntmen dangling from the lighting bar? Catastrophe is surely just one wrong move away!

Mixing comedy and chaos with physicality and original live music, Flown invites audiences to come inside, look backstage and delight in the absurdity of contemporary circus life. Bringing the magic of acrobatics, dance and aerial theatre to life with a uniquely contemporary take on traditional circus, wrapped up in a technically ingenious set, Flown is big, beautiful and wonderfully bonkers. And of course, in the end, everything is Flown – even the band.

Add to that the spectacularly unique location atop the cliffs at Porthcurno with the sea as its backdrop, and Flown at The Minack promises to be a stunning, awe-inspiring night of jaw-dropping circus magic - the first time circus has graced the stage in the venue’s 80-year history.

Minack manager Philip Jackson said: “Flown is not just any circus. Pirates of the Carabina are known for delivering remarkably impressive shows that are just unlike any theatre, circus or music show

you’ll have seen before. They are known for liking a challenge, and there’s none more

daring a trick than flying over the cliffs of Penzance. We are really looking forward to

hosting the cast and seeing the Minack come alive with circus magic this April.”

Pirates of the Carabina director Jade Dunbar feels the time is just right to be bringing circus back to her home county, and said: “After many years of touring Flown internationally, and across the UK, it is really exciting to be bringing the show to Cornwall, and particularly the Minack. With so stunning a backdrop, it will look as though our aerialists are being hung from the sky."

Flown will be at the Minack from Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 to £19 for adults and £12 to £16 for children, available on 01736 810181 or at minack.com/event/flown