National Circus Festival to surprise Mullumbimby

As the National Circus Festival pitches its tent at Mullumbimby, the show’s director shares her personal story. Here’s what her team has planned for the weekend.

A Bangalow circus director says the old stereotype from the 1950s of young adventurers running away to join the circus is false.

National Circus Festival director Alice Cadwell says a modern circus is a place of community and entertainment – and it’s all about putting on a good show.

The National Circus Festival weekend starts on Friday and runs through to Sunday at the Mullumbimby Showground.

Cadwell studied theatre, film and television at university before leaping headlong to the Circus Monoxide.

She was just 21 years of age and nicknamed ‘Trucker Barbie’ as she would jump into the truck to tow a 19-metre long red and yellow circus tent around Australia.

But she said running away was never about leaving someone.

Festival director Alice Cadwell (right) and performer Ciara Thorburn (left) at the National Circus Festival. Picture: Savannah Pocock

“I was just joining an amazing community,” she said.

Now, Cadwell lives at the circus with a partner and two children in a 1976 Viscount retro caravan with a pullout veranda and an interior that’s painted fluoro orange.

Through former connections with Circus Oz, Cadwell was able to acquire the famous 102-year-old Beagle Tent which has travelled all over the world, including Edinburgh, Brighten and Toronto.

“In the tent there’s over 3000 pieces of mirrors and all the wood is original,” she said.

“You can be anywhere in the world in that tent and those ghosts and the beautiful stories travel with you.”

National Circus Festival tent.

Cadwell said circus life was one where everyone trusted each other.

“Circus is a place for everyone, so whether it’s a young child who’s not great at sport but who can juggle, or whether it’s the stretchy acrobat or the funny clown, there’s something for everyone,” she said.

“Here at The Circus Festival people joke that it’s an extended large family wedding where everyone comes together.”

The National Circus Festival will feature internationally acclaimed acts – including death-defying stunts, acrobatics, a 25-metre inflatable globe and a family play space along with an outdoor cinema.

Cadwell said there was a “rich history” of circus in Australia, which mainly consisted of touring family circus companies.

Festival director Alice Cadwell and performer Ciara Thorburn at the National Circus Festival. Picture: Savannah Pocock

“There’s a lot of preconceptions about the circus, some of them are true and some of them aren’t,” she said.

“For me, contemporary circus is about celebrating people and doing great shows.”

The misconceptions surrounding modern circus is why Cadwell encourages people to see for themselves what it’s all about.

“It’s a beautiful blend of elders, young performers, fresh new shows and amazing works that are performed all over the world,” she said.

“It’s about the adrenaline from creating such a good show and the joy that it brings audiences.”