HARRY PAWLOCK - POLISH REFUGEE AND FORMER FRENCH FOREIGN LEGIONNAIRE - WAS TRAINED FOR THE CIRCUS IN HIS YOUTH. WHEN HE SETTLED IN ABIDJAN, CAPITAL OF THE IVORY COAST, SOME YEARS AGO HE NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THERE WAS NO LOCAL CIRCUS. SO HE DECIDED TO FORM ONE.

HARRY STARTED A CIRCUS SCHOOL AND TRAINED YOUNG ASPIRANTS IN THE FINE ARTS OF SLAPSTICK AND BALANCE ... TIGHTROPE AND TRAPEZE. BUT MOST OF THE STUDENTS COULDN'T PAY HIM. THE IVORY COAST GOVERNMENT PROVIDED A VACANT LOT FOR THE "BIG TOP", BUT SAID THEY COULD NOT SUBSIDISE HIM.

BUT HARRY WENT AHEAD, AND ALTHOUGH HE GETS NO ENTRANCE FEE - THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN. CHILDREN FORM THE BULK OF THE AUDIENCE AND HE LETS THEM IN FOR NOTHING. BUT HE HOPES THAT ADULT MEMBERS OF HIS AUDIENCE WILL DONATE A SMALL CONTRIBUTION.

HARRY AND HIS PERFORMERS HOPE THAT ONE DAY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TOUR CONTINENTS AS "THE ABIDJAN CIRCUS" - MEANWHILE SOME OF THE CLOWNS AND TIGHTROPE WALKERS TAKE PART-TIME JOBS TO HELP PAY FOR RUNNING EXPENSES AND COSTUMES.