In Pictures: Roll up for some spectacular stunts from the Cirque Berserk

Performers are still entertaining the public with jaw-dropping feats 250 years after the modern circus was created.

Published Feb 20, 2018

Contortionist Odka uses a bow and arrow as she performs with the Cirque Berserk at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the circus being invented (Andrew Milligan/PA)

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.

William from the African act Timbuktu Tumblers shows his flexibility (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Odka takes an unconventional route out of the bottle (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Contortionist Odka prepares to fire an arrow (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Gabriel produces a ring of fire at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh (Andrew Milligan/PA)

It is a team effort as the Cirque Berserk cast pose together (Andrew Milligan/PA)