HE presides over one of the weirdest collection of performers ever assembled since the days of the Victorian freak show.

As the Ringmaster from Hell, Doktor Haze is the driving force behind one of the most innovative shows around -- the Circus of Horrors.

If your idea of the circus is clowns throwing buckets of paper over the audience with a few tumblers thrown in for good measure, then think again.

The Circus of Horrors comes complete with its own rock band to provide live music through the show, chainsaws, explosions and 27 performers who will leaving you rubbing your eyes in disbelief.

And behind it all is the white-faced Doktor, a man with a terrible secret.

"Actually, I'm from Preston," he admits.

"So our shows in Blackpool next week will be a bit of a homecoming for me."

The Circus of Horrors will be at Blackpool's Grand Theatre next Friday and Saturday nights.

"It is a unique show," said Doktor Haze.

"You will see things that you will never have seen done live.

"We have brought danger back to the circus

As well as showcasing the skills of some incredible performers, the Circus of Horrors also has its own narrative, so is also a theatrical performance.

"It's basically about a young girl who runs away with the circus, gets killed and returns as a vampire out for revenge," said Doktor Haze.

"It begins at the turn of the 19th century and ends in the future."

Circus of Horrors was formed in 1994 .

"I had been working with a band and a handful of performers while at college, doing mainly illusions and a spot of fire-eating," said Doktor Haze

"I knew there was room out there for an anarchic show. There had been a French circus called Archaos and I liked the idea of a rock and roll circus.

Somehow Doktor Haze persuaded Gerry Cottle of the famous traditional circus family to allow him to put together his dream and the first performance was at the Glastonbury Festival. Since then Circus of Horrors has toured the world, drawing massive crowds in Japan, playing for weeks on end in London, and now taking part in its the third British tour.

Among the extraordinary acts -- many of whom have featured on TV shows such as Don't Try This At Home, with Davina McCall and Graham Norton -- are Wasp Boy, who has an 18-inch waist and swallows fluorescent tubes, and Gary Stretch, officially recognised by Guinness as the man with the stretchiest skin in the world.

Then there are trapeze artists and high wire acts -- many of who have been drawn away from mainstream circus.

"We are the trendiest circus in Europe," said Doktor Haze."Our audience isn't a traditional circus audience.

"Our performers don't work with safety nets. There is danger. But it is like being a racing driver -- you know what the risks are but it is controlled.

"You really have to see the show to fully appreciate how good our performers are. One thing's for sure, you won't have ever seen anything like it."

The Circus of Horrors is at Blackpool's Grand Theatre next Friday and Saturday nights. For details, contact the box office on 01253 290190.