Page 38 - The Outdoor Showman JUL-SEP 2018

CIRCUS NEWS
1. FABULOUS INFAMOUS
2. NEW CIRCUS
A year ago Circus Phoenix Extreme made its debut on Queensland’sGoldCoast.ProprietorPhoenixHarrisonistheson ofwell-knownshowbizentrepreneursCarlHarrisonandwife Sue(neePerry).Phoenix’sfirstperformancewasinsuburban HellensvaleonJune222007.Phoenixplayednorthtothe Sunshine Coast, back to the Gold Coast for a summer holiday season, and into New South Wales as far south as the Central Coast; returning north to play Forster for the school holidays. ColourfulpostersandpamphletsheraldPhoenix’scomingand performance times. I saw a performance at Raymond Terrace. AnentertainingprogrammeisgivenunderarentedBigTop. Nineartistespresentanarrayofactsnotinthetraditional ‘circus ring’ but on a large square patch enabling three sections of seating to be ‘upfront and personal’. Also there are three sections of traditional tiered seating. Another change from tradition, no animal acts. The programme is fast moving and colourful with a mix of traditional acts and motor cycles.
3. GREAT MOSCOW, GREAT CROWDS
The Great Moscow Circus’ all new extreme show has been playing through South Australia during the past few months and attracted big crowds and accolades.The programme features Australia’s top trial riders, “The Flair Riders”, Extreme high wire and the world’s best dare devil motorcycle cage riders, along with breathtaking aerial performances. This circus has begun a tour of Western Australia.
The Infamous’ website ‘went wild’ after a July opening night on Queensland’s Gold Coast with congratulatory e-mails. A week prior I had seen my second performance, in Newcastle of this spectacular production in the Spiegel Tent. Owner Pepe Ashton
moth-balled his Circus Joseph Ashton in Western Australia to tour his production INFAMOUS that has been playing from Western Australia, through South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and now Queensland. Wow, what an action- packed programme without animals! From the opening act of the sensational Big Wheel and closing with the nerve tingling Flying Trapeze, it is circus at its best. The advertised ‘combination of sexy circus acts, raunchy dancing and cheeky comedy presented in a Spiegel Big Top’ were sensibly blended with the exciting artistes. A unicyclist in one end of the Big Wheel, Pepe on the other end was a sensational opening to the 90-minute programme. For me Infamous it was the second circus I had seen within a week with no animals! This is a ‘must see’ circus that lives up to its motto, ‘a cabaret circus sensation.’
36 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN
JUL-SEP 2018