WHEN I was last in Shanghai I was able to get a ticket for the famous circus theatre, where I was amazed by the athleticism as well as the artistry of these extraordinary performers.

This theatre is where the best finish their training and from where the best of the best are then chosen for overseas tours.

And next month, they will be coming to Basingstoke to give three performances at The Anvil.

I talked to their general manager, Larry de Wit, who has been touring with the Chinese Circus for the past four years.

He said: "This particular troupe has been in the UK for two years and they are scheduled to return home at the beginning of March. Every two years the performers working abroad are recalled for a period of retraining, just to improve what I think is already marvellous!

"The powers-that-be will assess them, watch their performance, and see if it needs improving or refreshing. Then they will go through a few months of extra training and polishing-up before they are allowed to go on another tour.

"In their opinion they are like Olympic athletes, ambassadors for their country, and each performance is like going for the final in the Olympics."

There are 30 performers and back-stage crew coming to The Anvil - a trainer who is also a performer, the director of the acrobatic troupe and the director of the Kung Fu martial arts, as well as an interpreter and a cook to prepare all their meals.

Larry said: "In China there is an organisation called the CPAA - the Chinese Performing Arts Agency - which has talent scouts much the same as a football club would have over here. They go all over the country visiting schools, gyms, sports halls - everywhere they can watch the kids running, jumping, exercising, hoping to spot a particular child who may have a talent which can be brought out.

"They approach the parents and ask if they would be interested in sending the child to learn to be an artiste with the Chinese theatre. Most say yes because it is such a great honour to be invited.

"There is a circus school in every major city. At about five or six years of age, the kids go to these schools where they continue with their academic education, but also get circus and physical fitness training. At the end of 10 to 12 years' training, they decide which circus skills would be best for them, mapping out what they could achieve in another three, four, five years.

"At the end of this they all go through a test to decide whether they are good enough to continue their training. If they are considered not good enough, they go back home, with a good education and a wonderful experience, but they will never perform in the circus. The best ones are sent overseas, travelling worldwide.

"The current troupe in the UK, after refreshing and retraining, will go to Japan or South America or Australia."

Their traditions go back more than 2,000 years, with acrobatics, juggling, diabolos, hoop diving, pole balancing and the spectacular lion dance.

Larry adds: "We have two comedy spots this year with a chef who spins plates on tables and juggles with the cutlery. The plate spinning always intrigues the kids. It looks so easy, they try it at home. I'm sure we leave a trail of broken crockery behind us!"

The Chinese Circus plays The Anvil on Friday and Saturday, February 6 and 7, at 3pm and 7.45pm. Tickets are available from the box office on 01256 844244.