SHE'S only done one show so far, but already that's proved quite nerve-racking enough. For, as part of her act, Barley-born Emma Lewis had to stand against a board and have spinning knives thrown at her.

"I was terrified," grinned the 22-year-old circus girl. "But Willie, the guy who throws them, is fantastic. Out of the whole show, I wouldn't want anyone else doing it."

Emma is the newest recruit at The Circus of Horrors, an Exorcist-style comedy/horror fest featuring sweet-natured virgins, blood-sucking vampires, sword swallowers and an amazing stretching man, which arrives at King George's Hall, Blackburn tonight.

She joined the tour two weeks ago and already she has had to get used to having her throat cut, chopping people in half and the bizarre talents of her fellow cast members, who include voodoo acrobats, flying vampires and a person squeezed into a tiny pickle jar.

Emma admitted she was a bit nervous before she flew out to join her co-starsin Dublin last week, replacing an existing cast member who is taking some leave.

"To help me get over my fears about the knife throwing my boyfriend suggested I stand against the wall and he would throw ping-pong balls at me," she said. "I was shaking like a leaf. Then he threw the first one and it hit me right in the throat. I was like: 'Thanks a lot'."

Now she has spent some time with the cast, however, and done one show, Emma's apprehensions have been calmed somewhat.

"When I first joined, I wanted every trick explained to me," she said. "I get my throat cut in the first half of the show, which is a bit horrible. Then I have to cut someone else in half while they're in a coffin. The first time I did it, I didn't realise all this blood would spurt out. I was thinking, 'Oh God, what have I done?'"

Having adjusted to the blood and gore, Emma's next task is to get used to working with silks -- long sheets of material which suspend her above the stage while she performs complex acrobatic tricks.

"I only had two weeks to learn how to use them," said Emma. "I haven't performed with them yet. My first show with them will be this week, so I'll be nervous."

It's not as if Emma's background has left her totally unprepared for such eventualities, though.

After growing up in a cottage on Pendle Hill -- a place she proudly refers to as "the home of the witches" --Emma studied performing arts at Blackburn College, before quitting her course half-way through to run away to the circus.

The circus she chose was The Millennium Dome show and Emma worked there for two years, perfecting the gymnastics skills she had picked up while representing the Lancashire squad as a teenager.

After brief stints as a drama student in Whitechapel, London ("Jack the Ripper territory," Emma helpfully informed us) and as an Egyptian slave girl in Verdi's Aida, Emma decided she was missing the circus, so she transferred to an academy known as Circus Space to complete a degree in the subject. "I finished my degree in August," she said. "And I was wondering what to do.

"Then one of my teachers was contacted by John Haze, who runs the Circus of Horrors. He was looking for someone to play a 16-year-old maniac child and my teacher thought of me, which was nice of her!"

Emma's character, Ragen, is based on the legendary horror film The Exorcist.

She said: "It so happened I was flying out to join the company the day after Hallowe'en and The Exorcist was on the television just before I left, so I was able to get in a bit of research. I thought it was hilarious. There were heads spinning around and everything. I'm basing my character on that."

Emma's character goes through quite a startling transition during the course of the show.

"I start off looking very innocent in a pure white gown with my hair in pigtails.

"Then I get my throat cut at the end of the first half and wake up in this nightmare world."

Emma now lives in London with her actor boyfriend, but she still remains close to her Lancashire family.

"My parents are coming to Blackburn to see me, as are some of my friends," she said.

"My best friends are artists, so they think all this is totally normal.

"But my grandad always comes and sees whatever I'm in a million times.

"I've warned him not to buy too many tickets for this, though. I'm not sure if he'll enjoy all the throat cutting!"

Catch the Circus of Horrors tonight at King George's Hall, Blackburn. Call (01254) 582582 .