Circa’s Carnival of the Animals at QPAC | Video

Rather than the circus coming to town, it’s stayed in town thanks to the lockdown – and Brisbane audiences are the winners.

Working with animals or children is discouraged in some circles, but Brisbane contemporary circus troupe Circa embraces both.

Its hit show Carnival of the Animals, which is on at QPAC until Sunday, celebrates that.

Circa is a globetrotting outfit, and often we don’t see as much of them as we’d like to at home.

But this year they’ve been stuck in Brisbane by necessity, and that means we get to see Carnival of the Animals again.

It was created for QPAC in 2014 and has been seen around the globe since then according to Circa’s associate director Benjamin Knapton.

“It has travelled the world,” Knapton says.

“I was with it for a few seasons in France.

“It has played extensively through Europe and everywhere. people love it.

Circa’s world-famous acrobats perform in Carnival of the Animals at QPAC. Picture: Liam Kidston

“It’s a fast-moving show and it’s difficult for the acrobats, and the great thing is that it’s a family event and mums, dads, kids and grandparents can all enjoy it together, and that’s a rich experience.

“The music is stunning.”

Based on the much-loved musical suite Le carnaval des animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) by French romantic composer Camille Saint-Saens, (arranged and added to by Aussie Quincy Grant), the show is a lot of fun, according to Circa acrobat Nathan Boyle who has performed in it here and overseas.

“When we perform it the house lights don’t fully go down,” he says.

“That means you can see the audience and are more aware of them.

“With kids in the audience you can even hear what they say, and they are usually very honest.”

Luckily they tend to love it.

Tickets at qpac.com.au