THE world-renowned Chinese State Circus troupe has jetted in from Beijing to thrill audiences in Kendal with its "unmissable" big-top shows.

Highly-skilled artistes are staging twice-daily performances at Kendal Rugby Club between now and Sunday, featuring spectacular displays of aerial acrobatics, porcelain jar juggling and martial arts.

Binky Beaumont, of promoter Gandey World Class Productions, told the Gazette: "The show features over 30 artistes who have flown in directly from Beijing. The level of talent and skill on display is unbelievable; it's like nothing you've ever seen before.

"Many of these performers have trained in traditional Chinese circus schools since the age of four or five, so their abilities really are incomparable. On a technical level, the Chinese circus performers are renowned as the best in the world."

The big-top production, entitled Dynasty, is to feature the super-human physical skills of the Shaolin Warriors, masters of martial arts, as well as sights such as hurtling porcelain jars and gigantic table-and-chair pyramids framed by delicate strands of silk supporting cascading aerialists.

"Chinese acrobatics stretch back over 2,000 years to the Warring States period in ancient China," explained Binky, "so in many ways we have condensed 2,000 years of rehearsals into a two-hour show. There is nothing else like this touring the UK."

Box office open 10am-8pm daily, or phone 0844-4155228. www.chinesestatecircus.com