On the second day of the forum, 12 September 2025, the the Bolshoi Saint Petersburg State Circus on the Fontanka hosted a round table titled “Circus as a Universal Language of World Culture: New Forms of Partnership and the Prospects of Our Time.” The discussion was moderated by Askold Zapashny, Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Moscow Circus.
Fourteen speakers took part, including representatives of circuses from different countries. The first and most heated topic was the participation of animals in circus performances. Foreign guests expressed their enthusiasm about the absence of a ban on animal participation in circus shows in the Russian Federation.
“In Germany, we have many large circuses with animals, but touring is very difficult because in more than 80 percent of cities, circuses with animals are prohibited. As our colleagues from Saint Petersburg have said, animals in the circus are very well cared for. They will not work well if they live badly. In the circus we can show people that we are friends with our animals. I think it is wrong for the circus to work without animals,” shared circus artist Gabriella Popova.
Sergey Belyakov, General Director of the Rosgoscirk company, also affirmed that animals in circuses are kept in complete comfort and safety:
We are proud that Rosgoscirk supports the traditional classical Russian circus, a circus with animals. Through the circus we convey a caring, kind attitude toward our fellow creatures, our animals, that are part of the circus. On an ongoing basis Rosgoscirk holds open rehearsals, and we invite people to see behind the scenes of our circuses when safety rules permit. All this is so that people understand that in the circus animals are loved and protected.
The next theme of the round table was the talent shortage. Georgy Eradze, Director and Artistic Director of the production center Giya Eradze’s Royal Circus, noted that there is no shortage thanks to the large number of graduates coming from the circus school.
Tatyana Zapashnaya, Deputy General Director of the Bolshoi Moscow Circus, expanded on the topic by speaking about shortages on the technical side of companies:
We cannot limit the topic of a talent shortage to the artistic roster alone. In fact, I am now more of an administrator than a creative, and I can say there is a shortage and it is palpable. We are doing everything to attract additional fresh resources, but it is very difficult. We truly lack qualified welders, very good prop makers; we are very short of costume designers, orchestra musicians, and people who work competently with lighting.
Another issue discussed was artificial intelligence and its use in the circus. Anastasia Sarasenko, a representative of the Gomel State Circus, spoke on this topic:
“It is a wonderful opportunity that there are chats where we can find information we lack in order to stage a beautiful circus act. We must still understand that copyright must not only exist but also be applied according to the law. In our country there is an intellectual property center to which we pay contributions. Every art must be assessed by law, and circus art is no exception.
The round table concluded with the presentation of gifts to the Saint Petersburg circus from foreign speakers, as well as the signing of a four party cooperation agreement between the Moscow State Institute of Culture, Rosgoscirk, the Budapest Circus, and the Budapest College of Circus Arts.