OPPOSITE the stately grandeur of Tredegar House, a new building filled with wondrous curiosities has taken up temporary residence.

In Tredegar Park, the Moscow State Circus has arrived in Newport for the first leg of its Welsh tour, before it heads onto Cardiff and Swansea.

Gostinitsa – the Hotel of Curiosities – has arrived bringing with it a band of wacky and wonderful performers, from the clowns to the acrobats and gymnasts.

The production, which has taken two years to plan, tells the story of the hotel, with the Chervotkins – Alex and Bella – acting as tour guides to sensational sights under the giant big top.

“As the comedians, we are providing the light relief and jokes into the storyline,” said Alexander ‘Alex’ Chervotkin.

“The story of the show involves our interaction with the other characters performing in the circus.

“Perhaps we are not the main focus for the show – we are quite often in the shadow of the other performers – but we are here for the comic relief and doing a number of crazy, and hopefully funny, things.

“We are the housekeepers at the Gostinitsa – the Hotel of Curiosities – so Bella is like a maid while I am a porter or bell boy.”

While their madcap capers are not the main focus of the show, the Chervotkin clowns act as links to bring all of the other performers into the storyline.

“These roles have been created especially for show and each one has a different theme,” added Mr Chervotkin.

“As this performance is about a hotel, we thought it would be quite good to do something along those lines.”

Twenty-four showmen and women are incorporated into the performance, and Elena ‘Bella’ Chervotkina adds that the Gostinitsa show has someone for all ages.

“Aside of us, the show has something for everyone. There are amazing acrobats and gymnasts doing all kinds of tricks,” said Ms Chervotkina.

“People are going to laugh and people are going to be impressed by the talented performers.

“There is something for all ages – from the little ones to the old fans – it is a family show.”

Mr Chervotkin added: “It isn’t a regular type of circus – there is much more to it than that.

“The performers are amazing and some of their tricks are genuinely breath-taking - they are performing dangerous stunts and without safety nets. It is very impressive.”

The show pays homage to gymnastic prowess of Russia, and its historical predecessor the Soviet Union, and all the performers have a link to the USSR.

“Although not all the performers are from Russia, we are all formerly of the Soviet Union, and we all have the common tie of speaking Russian to one another,” said Mr Chervotkin.

“So I guess we do all have a Russian background.”

With the Newport show, it will be the first time that the Chervotkins have performed with the circus in Wales, and the weather has provided a particular anomaly to the pair who now live in Las Vegas.

“This is our first time in Wales,” said Ms Chervotkina.

“We have been to England a few times but that was in theatres. Here in Wales it is a completely different experience.

“It has been interesting since we arrived in Wales.

“We have seen the weather change at least five times and there was even snow when we first got here.”

Mr Chervotkin added: “I have played golf since arriving in Wales, but obviously it was not in my circus uniform.

“I’m used to playing in my normal clothes in the US but there’s a dress code here so I doubt my show costume would have been welcome.”

For all the performers, the circus has very much become part of their lives and it has taken many years of dedication and training to the craft to reach the level required to perform at the Moscow State Circus.

But when did the Chervotkin clowns run off to join the circus?

“I first walked past the circus when I was around 15.That when I left to join the circus and I haven’t left it since,” said Ms Chervotkina.

“Alex on the other hand is a seventh generation circus performer. You could say it’s in his blood.

“I don’t think he decided to be a circus performer as I don’t think he had a choice.”

The Moscow State Circus opened in Newport on Wednesday – kicking off the first of its 11 shows and running until Monday, May 1.

The show times for the circus are as follows: Saturday, April 29: 3pm and 6pm; Sunday, April 30: 2pm and 5pm and finally Monday, May 1: 2pm and 5pm.

The box office is open from 9am to 9pm in Tredegar Park and tickets start from £8, rising up to £36.

To attend, visit the box office, call 020 3375 3970 or go to ticketmaster.co.uk.