THE Moscow State Circus brings its latest and most spectacular show to date to Harpenden Common this month with the sensational extravaganza Babushkin Sekret.

Inspired by the legend of The 12 Chairs, this new show takes us on an incredible journey in the company of – without a doubt – the greatest non-animal circus performers on earth.

A mammoth cast of Russia’s greatest and most talented circus artistes, many of which have never performed in Britain, transform the most famous circus in the world, combining contemporary and classical circus in a way never before witnessed.

The circus will be at Harpenden Common from October 17-21, with shows on Wednesday to Friday at 5pm and 7.45pm, Saturday at 3pm and 6pm, and Sunday at 2pm and 5pm.

The newly devised show includes the beautiful queen of Russian circus, Yana Alievia, on a revolving aerial chandelier; the breathtaking Stalkions (three men and two girls walk, back flip and perform unbelievable pyramids 30 feet in the air on the legendary high wire); the Whirlwind Rubsovsm troupe who acrobatically catapult themselves across and high into the big top at breakneck speed; the juggling Sherbakovs on the reverse pyramid of St Petersburg; the Doktrovs, flying and spiraling in the apex of the big top with grace, beauty and elegance; the unbelievable vertical pole balancing of The Alikanov and the high flying bouncing bamboo bravados of The Perushkins.

If all this isn’t enough to keep you on the edge of your seats, then the hilarious clowns, Valik and Valerik will have you falling off them with laughter.

This sensational production is housed in a specially designed climate-controlled chapiteau big top that is uniquely domed to accommodate the complex rigging for the aerial acts, it is supported by only four ‘king’ poles so as not to obscure the audience’s view.

The 12 Chairs dates back to Soviet Russia in 1927. A former member of the nobility working as a desk clerk was told by his grandmother on her deathbed that her family jewellery had been hidden from the Bolsheviks in one of the 12 chairs from the family’s dining room set.

Those chairs, along with all other personal property, had been expropriated by the government after the Russian Revolution.

The desk clerk, played by Valerik and his sidekick Valik, become treasure hunters and try to outwit the Bolsheviks in tracking down the chairs.

The two comrades find the chair set had been put out to auction, but fail to buy it and afterwards find out that the set has been split up and sold individually.

They are not alone in their quest to find the jewels, but through a process of elimination, the two finally discover the location of the 12th and final chair – but will this chair contain the treasure?

Follow our buffoons in their quest for fame and fortune as they discover if their fate lies in the stars or in a fool’s paradise.

We have 10 prizes of four tickets to the Moscow State Circus to be won by our readers. To enter please answer the following question:

What year does the legend of The 12 Chairs date from?

A. 1925;

B. 1926;

C. 1927?

To enter text HA MOSCOW, followed by your answer (A, B or C), name, full address and contact phone number to 80058, e.g. HA MOSCOW B. John Smith, 11 Letsby Avenue, AL1 1TO.

Texts cost �1 plus your standard network rate. The competition closes at 12 noon on Friday, October 12. The winner will be drawn at random after this time.

No cash alternative, prize is not transferable. The editor’s decision is final. Usual promotion rules apply. Visit www.hertsad24.co.uk for details or call customer services on 0207 633 5020.

Entrance subject to availability of seats. Please arrive 30 minutes before the start of the performance. Prizes must be collected by winners from the Herts Advertiser offices in St Albans city centre during normal working hours.