La Bonche Circus Research

Circademic studies: History, Practice, Impacts

Facebook icon Twitter icon Instagram icon Circus Central logo
  • Home
  • About / Projects
    • War Circus (2016-17)
    • Circus in Physical Education (2015-16)
    • La Bonche…Who Are We? (2014-15)
    • Project Photos
      • Photo Shoot – March 2013
      • Meetings & Research – 2013
      • Out & About – 2013
      • Training & Preparation – 2013
      • Discovery Museum – Oct 2013
      • Great North Museum – Nov 2013
      • La Bonche – Teachers and Mentors
  • NE Circus History
  • Photo Archive
    • Arthur Fenwick’s Scrapbook Snippets & Photos
    • Arthur Fenwick Collection
      of Circus Handbills & Posters
    • The La Bonche Collection
      of Contemporary NE Circus Ephemera
  • Blog
  • Contact
You are here: Home / NE Circus History / Yuri & Tonya Gridneff
« Fossett’s Circus
Chipperfield »

Yuri & Tonya Gridneff

Mid 20th C

Yuri and Tonya’s Call to Newcastle’s Palace 17 Aug 1963. From Yuri & Tonya’s collection.Yuri comes from a background of Russian circus, where his family did the ‘unsupported ladder’ act. His dad Michael was in “The Amazing Gridneffs” who were originally from Siberia and came to the UK in 1937, after 5 years in South Africa. Yuri was in Chipperfield’s Circus from 1945-49 where he used to practice in the side of the ring as a child.

When Yuri married Tonya, who was a dancer, they made a circus act together. They toured the circus variety circuit and were often in Newcastle and the North East. Billed first as Yuri Gridneff & Lady, then Yuri Gridneff & Toni, then later taking on russian costumes as Yuri and Tonya, and being billed as a Russian act. His acts have included a unicycling a 4 meter ladder-cycle and a fantastic high skill multi-prop combination juggle on top of a giraffe unicycle! Yuri and Tonya now run Blackpool Youth Circus.

Share
« Fossett’s Circus
Chipperfield »

Search

Latest Diary Entries

North East Circus Records with Northumberland Archives.

Circus Graves Research

Fossett brothers remembered.

Incident in Wooler, 1908

War Circus Book Launch

More Diary Entries

Return to top of page

Privacy Policy
Various copyrights apply © 2023 Including: Circus Central, Madame La Bonche Publishing, Tyne & Wear Archives, with the originators & contributors. It should not be assumed that any material used here is in the public domain.
Website: Jaijiel Creative