Page 24 - The Outdoor Showman October-December 2023

CIRCUS NEWS
Vintage Year
Australian circuses and rodeos
made 2023 a vintage year, after two Covid-19 years, sent to try us.
The second half of the year finally came good, up until most shows folded their tents near the end of November.
Stardust Circus
Stardust Circus had a forgettable run in New South Wales early in the year, but it came good with big houses
back on their regular Sydney sites. They folded at Warriewood,
Northern Beaches, to spend Christmas at their Hawkesbury property. They’ll resume at St Mary’s, western Sydney, mid-January, and play around NSW for much of 2024. Program changes include Chonco
and Shay bringing their high-wire
act back from China, Yelena and Lee re-working their quick-change act into a French cafe scene, Ricky Ashton- Harrison adding his Wheel act to his triple somersault on flying trapeze, the pig rolling out the red carpet to introduce Ringmaster Jake Larkins, baby Isabella, 21 months, making her debut in the huge teeterboard act, and expanding the 25-year-favourite knockabout act to four performers: Gene, Cassius, Wyatt and Wayne.
Big bridge of rides out front, plus two tents. The show has a very young, full-ring vibe, and it wins.
Hudson’s Circus
Probably doing as well as any Australian circus in 2023, by sticking to major regional NSW and Victorian cities: Pt Macquarie in November, with Infamous at Coffs Harbour. Holidays at their property near Brisbane. Clown Goldie tells us that Hudson’s marked ten years this season, playing 313 shows on 20 sites, to more than 150,000 patrons.
Weber’s Circus
Huge moves this year for Harry Weber’s THE Circus, now resuming the name Weber’s.
From New Zealand to open 5,000 miles away around Perth, they played south-west WA, jumped 2,000 miles to major cities in South Australia,
then 2,000 miles to Darwin, NT,
and a 3,000-mile jump to Townsville. Engines barely switched off before they played Cairns, then major cities
down to Bundaberg, Gympie, Hervey Bay, a new site opposite Bunnings, Maroochydore, then holidays at family properties near Woongoolba, Moreton Bay. A wild ride, but a
good one!
Great Moscow Circus
Bert and Josephine Weber’s Great Moscow Circus was around Perth earlier in the year, then staged their way east to embark for Tasmania
in November.
They open Hobart in January after a
month-long break in The Apple Isle. Another good year.
Gill Bros’ Rodeo
Kitty and Gladys Gill were inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame on October 30. Both were champions, highly respected in both circus and rodeo.
Sylvia Anna Gill, nee Ayoub, widow
of Brian, mother of Brian Jr, Susan (d), Jacqueline, Malcolm, Edward, and Justin, has died after an adult lifetime of circus and rodeo. She was buried at Coonamble Lawn Cemetery, NSW, Wednesday November 29, ending a long era of outback performances. Infamous
Back in Australia after three months’ showing in the USA, Pepe Ashton’s cabaret-circus opened for one stand at Brisbane’s North Lakes.
Then a 500-k jump to Coffs
Harbour, NSW, and Tamworth,
to excellent business.
Harrington’s
This circus-show played Wauchope, NSW, in October, but later on the NSW Coast suffered its first blowdown. After they lost sidewalls and foyer tent, they rallied to resume showing in November.
Parker’s Mini
Played agricultural shows and aged care centres in Western Victoria, including Nhill, in October-November. But Kevin has been diagnosed with cancer, and cancelled all shows from mid-November.
Circus Rio
In Northern NSW this quarter, on to Newcastle. Carlos and Dini Urban
are with the show.
Ashton Entertainment
With new baby in tow, Chantel and Jefferson took their presentation to Lismore Agricultural Show, NSW, in October. More shows booked.
Baby for aerialist Chantel adds to seventh Ashton performing generation. (above)
At 94, Dougie Ashton Hayes wins $500 prize singing ‘What a Wonderful World’ on Australia’s got Talent.
Gary and Lorraine (Ashton) Grant and family, 1979 Royal Command Performance, Monte Carlo, at World Circus Championships. (below)
22 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN