THE BALLOON MAN

The circus comes to town

 

Circus Royale Owner & Ringmaster Mr Damian Syred
from:  pilbaraecho.com.au
by Ben Leahy
May 3, 2013
Is life getting a bit too serious?
Well this month you could be clowning around with acrobats, high wire motorbikes and even llamas as Australia’s Circus Royale and the Pilbara Echo give away more than 100 double passes to the big top.
Performing at the Country Club in Bulgarra from May 18 to 21, Karratha readers can win one of 15 double passes, while Hedland readers can snap up  100 double passes to the show at McGregor Street from May 24 to
 June 3.
To win, readers need to visit www.pilbaraecho.com.au.
Circus Royale ringmaster and owner Damian Syred said that with acts by artists from nine different countries, families can expect an entirely new show compared to the group’s last visit two years ago.
“We have brand new artists, like the motorbike highwire,” Damian said.
“That is where the motorbike goes up on the high wire, and he’s got two girls suspended on a trapeze beneath him – that is something even I had never seen before.”
 Families can also expect to see the UK’s acrobatic roller skating duo, the Miller Brothers, Goldie the clown and animal acts involving dogs, ponies, camels and llamas.
 Llamas – what do they do?
 “The llamas are part of my brother’s camel act,” Damian said.
 “They run under and jump over camels that are standing and sitting.”
 Like the llamas, life on the road can occasionally get bumpy for the rest of the Circus Royale performers too after their big top got flooded by a flash thunderstorm during their last visit to Karratha.
 And, of course, in show business the show must go on.
 “It happened overnight, but we still managed to put on the show the next night thanks to all our team and a few locals pitching in to help get us through,” he said.
 Despite the drama, for Damian the joys of circus life far outweigh the trials.
 Having first worked with Circus Royale for work experience making show bags he eventually bought the whole show in 2007.
 He hopes this infectious love for the circus rubs off on those who come to watch.
 “It is traditional fun for the whole family, we aim to please all the age groups,” he said.