Yerevan Circus to have modern design after reconstruction - artistic director

The rebuilt Yerevan Circus needs to be given a modern design and be furnished with the necessary up-to-date equipment to attract visitors, says the artistic director.

"Everybody wants to see the circus built and start operating, but they should understand that constructing the building is a complicated development activity. A circus is not a standard building to be completed just within a short period. The important thing for us is to have a modernized circus," Sos Petrosyan said, warning against any plans to speed up the activities.

Minister of Urban Development Narek Sargsyan said at his end-of-year news conference in December that they intend to hand over the building for exploitation in 2017.

He added that the circus would be adjusted to wide-scale performances, including plays on ice and in water, air rides etc.

Petrosyan noted that the circus, which formerly had 1,500 seats, will now be able to host 2,500 visitors.

"With winters cold and summers hot, we used to simply survive," he added.

Asked whether the human resources will be enough to work in the modernized circus, the artistic director replied, "We have so many performers scattered around the globe; many of them confirmed their plans to return in private conversations with me, so that hasn't been a matter of concern for us. When the circus starts operating, we will change the program every three months. And to do that, we will conclude contracts with the performers and troops. Also, European and American circus representatives will be invited."