THE BALLOON MAN

Circus rolls into Warrnambool

Bonita Brophy loves the circus life, so setting up the big top doesn’t get her into a spin. With hula hoops at hand, she’s just one of many circus folk getting ready for shows in the south-west.
JONO PECH
03 Aug, 2011
from: standard.net.au
THE Perry Bros Circus has invited south-west families to come out and clown around under the big top this weekend.
After successful stays in Colac and Camperdown, the family circus arrived in Warrnambool yesterday to set up for some old-fashioned family shows.
The multigenerational act is one of Australia’s oldest circus families, touring the country for more than 150 years.
A management and performance crew of eight multi-talented people run the circus, which includes jugglers, whipcrackers, hula hoops, diablos, wire walks, ponies and clowns in three shows at the Warrnambool Showgrounds from Friday to Sunday.
Manager Warren Brophy, also a performing clown and whipcracker, said the entertainers as a family provided a great night out for other families.
“It’s not just for adults or just for kids,” he said.
“The oldest person we had at Camperdown had just turned 97 and she really loved it.
“We’re all family-orientated and my boy is the seventh generation.
“We’re one of the oldest circus families in Australia, more than 150 years old.
“Right through both world wars, we’ve kept going.”
This weekend is the Perry Bros Circus first stint in Warrnambool in more than 10 years, Mr Brophy said.
“It’s been a long time,” he said yesterday.
“We go all over, to a lot of towns. Noorat is next.
“We prefer smaller towns where people are more friendly.
“People are more hands-on, they tend to help out and they tend to appreciate it a bit more.
“The audience is right there with us because it’s a small tent and we’re with you the whole time.”