Pickled person who can fit in a jar wanted....

We can't squeeze you all in... Circus troupe swamped with applicants for 'Pickled Person' who can fit into a jar

By CHRIS PARSONS
Last updated at 8:23 PM on 4th May 2011

It's a position requiring more than a little flexibility from applicants, and those who want the job can't be afraid of working in 'cosy' conditions.

But despite the ultra-specific skill set of the position, a circus has been flooded with applications for a 'pickled person' to squeeze themselves into a jar.

The Brighton Jobcentre displayed the notice for a 'contortionist' on behalf of Circus of Horrors, who say they have since been inundated with inquiries about the job.

The Circus of Horrors has been flooded with applicants after advertising at the Brighton Jobcentre for a 'pickled person'. Here, The Twister in the bottle with Dr Haze, founder of the circus

The 'situations vacant' listing for the controversial act reads: 'Previous experience would be advantageous but not essential.

'The ideal candidate would be flexible and not afraid of tight spaces.'

Bosses at Circus of Horrors - a former semi-finalist on Britain's Got Talent - say they have received 'dozens' of calls about the position since it was posted last Wednesday.

They claim that despite only expecting five or six brave applicants, they have actually been called 'around every 15 minutes' about the job.

Right fit for the job? The advert asks that candidates are flexible and are not afraid of tight spaces

Staff who advertised the daring position now say they could expect the number of applicants to go into 'hundreds'.

The modern day freak show said it is constantly looking for new contortionists as its previous pickled people keep getting pregnant. 

Acrobat Asia Sawicka, 24, said: 'We call it the fertility bottle. The artists keep having babies for some reason. 

'It's not the sort of thing you can do when you are pregnant so we have to find new performers all the time. 

'At the moment we have a Mongolian contortionist called Iona, but she is away for a few weeks so we need someone to take her place. 

'We've always had women in the bottle, but we're open to male applicants as well.'

The winning applicant would have to be able to squeeze into a tiny bottle, 2ft tall and 18ins in diameter. 

The job lasts just under two weeks, while the circus is in town for the Brighton Festival, and pays £200 for seven hours work per week.

Circus of Horrors, who are advertising for a 'Pickled Person', are former Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists

The circus said it had its first calls asking for auditions within five minutes of the advert going up, and has since received over 50 applications.

Miss Sawicka, who hangs by her hair for her act, said: 'This is a great opportunity to run away with the circus for a while. 

'The pickled person is a very popular part of the show. We have been doing it for about 15 years. 

'The contortionist has to squeeze into the bottle and wait patiently before being unveiled to gasps from the audience. 

'Once it is opened they have to be able to climb out, which takes a bit of practice.

Must be flexible: The group say they are looking for someone who 'is not afraid of tight spaces'

'It's not a dangerous act, although you have to trust your fellow performers. 

'A few years ago, a fire alarm went off and everyone ran out of the theatre, leaving the pickled person in the bottle. 

'Luckily we soon realised they were missing and let them out. 

'We're flooded with applicants at the moment.' Auditions will be held inside the circus tent next Tuesday, with performances starting the next day. 

Circus ringmaster Dr Haze said: 'It's amazing really, we thought we would have maybe five or six applicants but the way things are going it looks as though we will have hundreds.'

Bosses at Circus of Horrors say they could end up receiving 'hundreds' of applications for the contortionist job

His troupe reached the semi-final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent last month, but judges Amanda Holden, Michael McIntyre and David Hasselhoff were accused of favouritism after it emerged the group had already worked with the show's presenters Ant and Dec. 

In a 2007 appearance on Saturday Night Takeaway, the troupe persuaded the Geordie pair to limbo dance under a rope of fire and stand between two knife throwers. 

The circus is famous for its gruesome stunts, including Garry Stretch and his record-breaking elastic skin, and The Dwarf Demon Dan, who had be surgically removed from a vacuum cleaner hose after trying to tow the appliance with his privates during a 2007 show.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1383528/Job-Centre-swamped-applicants-pickled-person--squeeze-jar-circus-stunt.html#ixzz1LQ3q7R4g