Maltby’s Hidden Circus Heritage Takes Centre Stage

Maltby’s Hidden Circus Heritage Takes Centre Stage with New National Lottery Heritage Funded Project. 

Flux Rotherham is thrilled to announce that we have been successful in securing funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to launch a brand-new project, The Sensational Alzanas and Other Daredevils!  

Through this project, we’ll bring Maltby’s extraordinary, hidden circus heritage to life, celebrating the remarkable story of Harold Alzana (Formerly Harold Davis) and his family- world-famous wire walkers with deep roots in Maltby’s mining community. 

Over a week-long immersive residency, children and young people will reconnect with their town’s vibrant past through hands-on workshops, live performances, and creative storytelling. Internationally renowned high-wire artist Chris Bullzini will recreate the Alzanas’ breathtaking feats, thrilling modern audiences with the art of funambulism (high-wire walking). 

Let’s Circus will lead fun and accessible sessions in wire-walking skills and artists from FLUX Rotherham will create workshops based on the fabulous costumes worn by the Alzanas. A mobile museum trailer will tour with archival photographs, Pathé film footage, and community stories and memories, shining a light on how local heroes like the Alzanas helped shape the broader history of circus arts. 

Young people will take an active role working with Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage in preserving this special story, gathering oral histories, participating in creative writing activities, and forging new connections across generations.  

Much of the activity will happen in local schools and through direct engagement with the wider community, ensuring that Maltby’s proud heritage is both honoured and shared. 

Flux Rotherham Programme Director Helen Jones said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to celebrate such a rich story of local daredevils. Thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding, Chris Bullzini and the team from Let’s Circus will highlight this incredible story and we hope residents will get the same sense of awe and wonder as people had in the 1940s when they watched Harold, his brother Edgar, and their sisters Hilda and Elsie plus Harold’s wife Minnie rehearsing on makeshift high wires strung between telegraph poles in Maltby.”  

A key highlight will be at the community event Maltby Community Festival on May 31st, where an 8-metre-high, 18-metre-long hire wire will be installed for Chris Bullzini and his team to perform breathtaking acts. Let’s Circus will also deliver engagement activities throughout the day, alongside a lively programme of performances and community celebrations. 

We need your help! 
As part of the project, we are looking for stories, memories, and photographs related to the Alzana family and Maltby’s circus history. We’re also keen to track down memories of other local daredevils such as Skid Skinner and Daredevil Alma, Wall of Death riders from Hellaby. If you have any information, family connections, or anecdotes to share, we would love to hear from you. 

The project is delivered in partnership with RMBC Neighbourhoods Team, Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage and Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust. 

Image: Alzana’s Family high-wire performance. Courtesy of Barry Knowles and family.