Audiences will have the chance to experience a circus spectacular at this year’s Godiva Festival as part of Coventry’s bid to be the next UK City of Culture in 2021. On Sunday 9 July, Bristol-based company Cirque Bijou will be performing an exciting outdoor show, specially commissioned for the festival by the City of Culture Trust.

Combining daring stunts with live music, Cirque Bijou’s “New Day” will culminate in a daredevil highline walk, accompanied by a Coventry community choir singing ELO’s “Mr Blue Sky”. The show lasts 25 minutes, and will run twice during the day.

Coventry’s Godiva Festival is set for a Sunday circus spectacular, thanks to the team behind the bid to be UK City of Culture 2021.

 As part of Coventry City of Culture Trust’s bid events Programme, Cirque Bijou will be performing at the UK’s biggest free festival on Sunday 9 July, presenting ‘New Day’, an exciting outdoor circus show, specially created for Godiva Festival.

 The Bristol-based company, which is known for its eye-catching and daring shows, is now gearing up for the performance which will include an uplifting mix of circus and live music.The 25 minute show, which will run twice a day, will reach a dramatic finale with a daredevil highline walk, accompanied by a Coventry community choir singing ELO’s Mr Blue Sky – a song synonymous with Coventry City.

 The community choir is open to anyone, and Coventry City of Culture Trust is currently recruiting for members of the choir to perform on the day, so anyone who would like to be part of this exciting event and perform at Godiva should e-mail info@coventry2021.co.uk for more information.Laura McMillan, Manager of Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “Our events over the past year have been all about giving people a taste of what UK City of Culture could look like if we were successful in our bid.

 “That’s been a mix of showcasing and pushing forward the artistic, diverse and cultural talent that we have here in Coventry – such as Masterji and the This is Coventry tent at last year’s Godiva Festival – as well as bringing in performers and artists to the city that otherwise we might not get to see.

 “We believe this will add a new twist to this year’s Godiva Festival and is part of what is already a fantastic line-up.”

 Geraldine Giddings, senior producer of Cirque Bijou, said: “Cirque Bijou are thrilled to be creating a spectacular show for Coventry. New Day will be eye-catching and exciting, telling an ambitious story of skill, beauty and daring.

 “Circus artists will climb, fly and dance, accompanied by live and mixed music, and the finale highline walk, joined by the voices of a local Coventry choir, will be incredible!”

 Godiva Festival is already promising to be one of the biggest ever with musical artists such as Cast, The Stranglers, Tom Clarke, Example & DJ Wire, The Darkness and Kate Nash on the three-day bill.

Coventry City Council, The University of Warwick, and Coventry University are Principal Partners of the bid and are providing significant support. The Ricoh Arena is Bid Sponsor while Jaguar Land Rover, Adient, Friargate, Coventry Building Society, the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham Airport, PET-Xi, SCC, Pertemps, CEF (City Electrical Factors) and Listers are also Bid Development Sponsors.

 To show your support for Coventry’s bid on social media, go to @Coventry2021 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information, visit www.coventry2021.co.uk