Killer clowns ... and a marriage proposal!

When faced with the daunting task of popping the question, gents of a canny disposition might opt for a discreet location, say a cosy restaurant.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Feb 2016, 19:45 BST
Paula Clark and Ian Handyside, who proposed onstage at the Circus of Horrors Show at the Rothes Halls. All pictures by Steve Gunn.Paula Clark and Ian Handyside, who proposed onstage at the Circus of Horrors Show at the Rothes Halls. All pictures by Steve Gunn.
Paula Clark and Ian Handyside, who proposed onstage at the Circus of Horrors Show at the Rothes Halls. All pictures by Steve Gunn.

But what about proposing marriage on stage with Jack the Ripper and Killer Klowns as witnesses?

Well that’s exactly what Ian Handyside (34) did before an enrapt audience during the Circus of Horrors Show held at the Rothes Halls on Thursday last week.

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His girlfriend Paula Clark (33) told the Press she didn’t have a clue what was coming.

She said: “We got shown to our seats by a woman who kept smiling and I thought ‘she’s really friendly, what a nice woman she is’.

“Everybody knew in the Rothes Halls before me!”

Paula had booked the tickets for the show, which features grisly murders and sensational shocks amid crazy circus acts set in Victorian London.

“It was totally random,” she said.

“It’s not the sort of show we would normally go to. I just booked it because it was a bit adventurous.”

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About 25 minutes in, just before a Demon Dwarf is strangled by a length of rope, a performer asked for two volunteers from the audience.

“She asked Ian to go up on stage,” said Paula, “and when I saw him hyperventilating I just chuckled thinking he was so nervous.

“And then the guy who does the circus said to Ian he needed to give him the mic.

“I thought ‘Why is he doing that?’

“Then he said: “Paula, can you come up here a minute?”

Paula reluctantly walked on stage and was stunned when Ian got down on bended knee and said: “Paula, I’ve always loved you. Will you marry me?”

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To the audience’s delight, and Ian’s immense joy, she said ‘yes’ immediately.

The Kirkcaldy couple have been in a relationship for four years and Ian had been secretly thinking of proposing marriage for a while.

He said: “I just wanted to create a moment she would remember.

“Everybody could see that I was shaking. When she said ‘yes’ it was a relief!”

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Paula added: “Everybody was laughing and cheering and clapping but I didn’t really notice at the time because I was completely oblivious.”

The happy couple received a card and a bottle of champagne from the Rothes Halls team and cast members from Circus of Horrors congratulated them afterwards.

They haven’t set a wedding date yet but, be warned, the guest list might be interesting...