Hi 1693_Travel! Thank you very much for this wonderful review. We're glad to hear that you had a great time at Phare and hope that the show was a great antidote to your Angkor temple fatigue. Thanks for pointing out to other travelers the special ticket pricing during the season of Phare Circus Rising that goes on till September 2022. The artists involved will be pleased to hear your kind words. We hope you had an amazing trip in Cambodia and we look forward to welcoming you in the future.

Hi Narelle, thank you for sharing your Phare Circus experience. It's especially gratifying to hear the entire evening was a success. The Cambodian street food experience and pre-show entertainment are new features that were added during the pandemic. They proved to be so popular, they were made permanent. Our sincerest hope is that guests will experience a full evening of uniquely Cambodian activities and entertainment. Thanks again for the review. Your compliments will be shared with the entire staff and performers.

Hi Graham, thanks for the awesome review of your evening at Phare Circus. It's definitely not a conventional, acrobatic circus , but uniquely Cambodian story telling. The artists create and perform stories based on their own life experiences, drawing from recent Cambodian history, folklore and modern society. Understanding the challenging circumstances from which the performers came, make the experience much more impactful. The short speech at the end gives a brief overview, offers an opportunity for guests to contribute to Phare Ponleu Selpak non-profit school if they like, and come down on stage to chat and take photos with the artists. We're delighted to hear the evening was a success and your appreciation will be shared with the performers.

Hi koh_bbb, Thank you for sharing your Phare Circus experience. Your repeat visits are the ultimate compliment. You capture the uniqueness of Phare performances. The artists are sharing parts of their lives with guests. They create the stories based on their own life experiences, while also drawing from recent Cambodian history, folklore and modern society. And, they do so with very simple, modest staging. It's wonderful that you visited Phare Ponleu Selpak school in Battambang. Seeing where it all started and where the next generation of Cambodian artists are discovering and developing their talent, gives a whole new dimension to the experience of watching a performance. Thank you again for your repeat visits. We hope to welcome you to another Phare Circus performance in the near future.

Hi S0n1a_13, thank you for the awesome review of your evening at Phare Circus. We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the Cambodian street food and drinks before the show. This format is something that was added during the pandemic, which proved to be very popular, so it was kept on. The shopping and pre-show entertainment around the cafe also are a great warm up for the main event in the big top. As you mention, Phare is not a conventional acrobatic circus, but uniquely Cambodian story telling, which uses drama, dance, live music, visual arts and circus. The artists and staff will be very happy to hear your compliments.

Hi gabiA, thank you for writing such a detailed review of your evening at Phare Circus. It's a great tip for future guests to arrive early for the Cambodian Street Food, drink specials, shopping and pre-show entertainment. The pre-show changes weekly. We look forward to welcoming you for another visit!

Hi Lindsay, Thank you so much for the high praise and detailed review of your Phare Circus experience. It was a delight to welcome you and your group for the "Phare Insider" back-stage experience. Everyone had such great questions about the artists and their journey through Phare Ponleu Selpak non-profit school in Battambang to the Phare Circus big top in Siem Reap. An evening at Phare Circus takes on a whole new meaning when guests connect with what makes it special: the journey that the artists have taken to transform their lives through art. I feel like Phare artists are the "pride of Cambodia" , as they do things like set the Guinness World Record for the longest circus show (during a pandemic, even), perform nightly to hundreds of guests at the Siem Reap big top, and travel overseas to perform in various countries. Our sincerest hope is that guests attending a Phare Circus performance will enjoy an excellent evening , with the added benefit of knowing they're helping sustain good jobs in the arts and funding Phare Ponleu Selpak non-profit school where the next generation is transforming THEIR lives. Thank you again for engaging with us and giving us the opportunity to share the Phare story.

Hi neryswlewis, Thank you for such a detailed review of your evening at Phare Circus. It's delightful to hear you enjoyed the full evening, from the Cambodian street food favorites, drink specials, shopping and pre-show activities. It's a great warm-up to the main event. As you point out, guests can get tickets from most hotels in Siem Reap, as well as on the Phare Circus website and many other online travel websites. The iconic red circus big top is an intimate venue, so guests will not be far from the action no matter which seat area they choose, but as you mention, the best views are in Reserved Sections A & B, facing the front of the stage. The views in some spots of Open Section C on the sides of the stage are partially obstructed by support poles. Arrive early to avoid those spots. "Same Same but Different" is such an insight into how Cambodians see the way they approach daily life and how it's different from the way non-Cambodians do. Very tongue-in-cheek fun. We're also thrilled to see visitors coming back to Siem Reap and Phare Circus after more than two years of zero tourism. The entire community is coming back to life. It's also a unique time to enjoy the sites without too many visitors. It's a special time for visitors and locals. Thanks again for the recommendation and for including Phare Circus in your Siem Reap visit.

Hi Kaverukset, thank you for sharing your Phare Circus experience. We're delighted you enjoyed the show and agree it's fun for all ages. It's great you took advantage of the pre-show activities and Cambodian street food. As you point out, guests have the added satisfaction of knowing their patronage supports good jobs in the arts, and funds Phare Ponleu Selpak non-profit school. We hope readers follow your recommendation. :-)

Hi Anita O, thank you very much for sharing such a detailed review of your Phare Circus experience. Indeed, Phare is not a conventional acrobatic circus. Using very simple staging, the artists share stories based on their own life experiences, drawing also from recent Cambodian history, folklore and modern society. "Eclipse" also integrates a lot of Cambodian mysticism. It's a uniquely Cambodian story of how society reacts to those with handicaps, but with a universally recognizable theme of acceptance and desire to belong. It's a good tip for future guests to browse the locally made crafts in Phare Boutique. Purchases help support local crafts people and Phare Ponleu Selpak non-profit school. Thanks again for your visit and we wish you a pleasant journey.