The big top is set to rise once again across the New England and North West as the Great Australian Circus rolls into town this autumn, bringing acrobatics, laughter and high-energy entertainment for audiences of all ages.
Presented by Ashton Entertainment, the travelling circus will begin its regional run in Tamworth from March 27 to April 12, before heading to Armidale from April 17 to April 26, Inverell from May 1 to May 3, Moree from May 8 to May 10, and Narrabri from May 15 to May 17.
For Chantel Ashton-Rodriguez, (a fifth-generation member of the Ashton family) who manages the tour while also performing in the show, bringing the circus back to the region is something she and her family are particularly excited about.
“It’s a great region. We really like that area, so I’m looking forward to it,” she said.
“We haven’t done that itinerary for quite some time… I was trying to think before the interview when we were last in Tamworth and I couldn’t remember. I think it was maybe like 2009.”
The show is part of a long-standing tradition for the Ashton family, whose circus roots stretch back nearly two centuries. Chantel explained that the family’s story began in the early 1800s when their ancestor James Henry Ashton performed as a trick rider in Tasmania before establishing Ashton Circus in 1850.
“Our family started in the early 1800s… and since then the family has grown and gone on to open their own shows and touring companies and circus schools,” she said.
“There’s actually three travelling shows at the moment.”
The production touring the New England is the Great Australian Circus, the flagship show produced by Ashton Entertainment, combining classic circus skills with modern staging and entertainment.
Chantel herself has been part of the circus world almost her entire life.
“Since I was a kid, like all of my family members, we sort of get taken into the circus ring before we can walk,” she said.
“We’re in a costume and taken into the parade. I did trick riding with my dad when I was two.”
From there she progressed through different circus disciplines as she grew up.
“I think I was about 11 when I started doing a perch act with my dad… and then it wasn’t until I was about 13 that I started doing my own acts,” she said.
“Everyone just does a little bit of everything in our industry.”
While the circus proudly celebrates its long history, Chantel said keeping the show fresh for modern audiences is equally important.
“We definitely are proud of our history and our legacy, so we like to keep a spotlight on what our family have done in the past,” she said.
“That’s very special to us and important to keep that history alive, but we also keep our shows very modern and up-to-date with the times.”
Behind the scenes, Chantel plays a major role in managing the tour, something she says can sometimes be more challenging than stepping into the spotlight.
“At the moment I’m running the tour and managing and doing all the office, so all the admin takes up a lot of time,” she said.
“Sometimes people see the show and they say ‘Oh, you don’t stop during the whole show.’ I think this is the easiest part of my day – the office part, that’s the hard bit.”
When the circus arrives in town, audiences can expect a packed program of international talent and traditional circus thrills.
“We’ve got a great tour lined up,” Chantel said.
“We’ve got some stunning dancers, a variety of aerial acts, ground-based acts with knife throwing, contortion, hand balancing, really great comedy in our show, and of course the Globe riders from South America, which is always a crowd favourite.”
Moving such a large production between towns each week is no small feat. The circus travels with performers, crew, equipment and the iconic big top, making each relocation a major logistical effort.
“It’s definitely an effort – it’s a logistical nightmare sometimes,” Chantel said.
“You’re basically moving a village on wheels from town to town and it’s one town each week.”
Despite the challenges, touring regional Australia remains central to the family’s mission.
“We’ve always taken our show to places that maybe other shows don’t go to, or they just don’t get a lot of entertainment,” she said.
Over time, those visits often turn into lasting relationships with local communities.
“Some of those towns we make friends with and we look forward to catching up when we’re back,” Chantel said.
“And like Inverell, I think I’ve known the man there that runs the gymnastics since my nephew was a kid.”
For performers, life on the road offers a unique lifestyle.
“They get to travel the world and perform, so it’s pretty amazing,” Chantel said.
“They perform on the weekends and have their days free, so they get to explore the towns where they are during the day and then go and do the show at night.”
The family’s long history in Australian circus is also inspiring a new film project currently in development. Titled Mungo, the story is set in 1853 and follows a young Gamilaroi boy whose life changes after a chance encounter with the travelling Ashton Circus as it tours regional Australia. The film is being developed by Tamworth-based company Farm Gate Productions and is planned to be filmed locally.
Above all, the circus aims to create memories that stay with audiences long after the big top comes down.
“We love putting on live shows that can be enjoyed by the whole family,” Chantel said.
“You can bring your two-year-old to your 92-year-old grandma and they’re all going to love the show.”
Chantel said many visitors share stories about seeing the circus as children and returning decades later with their own families.
“We have people come back and say, ‘I remember I saw the circus when I was a little girl,’ and there’ll be this 80-year-old grandma telling us about it like it was yesterday,” she said.
“So I think in this day and age where there’s so much technology, the circus brings families together and gets them out of the house to see a live show away from a screen.”
As the tour prepares to roll into the region, Chantel hopes local communities will embrace the chance to experience live performing arts.
“I just hope the local community come out and support an Australian family business,” she said.
“Performing arts is a really special industry and we’d just love the community to back it.”
Tickets are on sale now via the Ashton’s website.
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