THE BALLOON MAN

Longest-running circus in Australia brings the big top fun to Armidale

Rob Levy putting on a show with the miniature donkeys
CRAIG SCHNEIDER
14 Feb, 2011
from: The Armidale Express.com
ROLL UP to one of Australia’s last remaining exotic circuses at the Armidale Showground.The Lennon Bros Circus is coming to town from February 17 to 20 - the only one to arrive in Armidale this year.
“We’re an exotic circus, meaning we have lions, monkeys, alpacas, camels, miniature horses and donkeys,” advanced marketing manager Patrick Houghting-Anderson said.
“We’re only one of two circuses left in Australia who have the exotic animals.”
The Lennon Bros Circus is the longest running circus in Australia, having been around since 1893.
Be amazed by the trapeze, high-wire act and acrobats, contortionists, clowns and the Double Wheel of Death in the two-hour show.
“We try to put the ‘wow’ factor back into circus,” Mr Houghting-Anderson said.
“We want to excite our guests and enable them to have an experience that they wouldn’t normally get.”
The Lennon Bros Circus remains family owned, with Geoffrey and Warren Lennon operating the circus.
Mr Houghting-Anderson, who has worked with a number of circuses, said that the animals here are well maintainted.
“The animals are our livelihood, but they’re also members of our family,” he said.