Cirque Mother Africa

'Masks, drums, beads, and amazing costumes and sets all bring forth the feel of authentic African traditions. Cirque Mother Africais not just a traditional African show. It also has a take on the modern, fresh and dynamic culture of the new Africa. This is a fresh and fantastic show that evokes passion and demands a response. Audiences are encouraged, prodded and charmed to actively respond rather than to simply watch a breath-taking spectacle.'

Cirque Mother Africa is a unique type of circus, it has been compared to 'The Lion King' but it incorporates traditional circus acts. 

'Critics have described this theatrical event as “enthralling”, “a theatrical treasure”, “a feel good spectacular par excellence”, “solid Entertainment”, “fun, fun, fun” and much more.'

If this sounds interesting to you Click Here learn more about their show at Canberra Theatre Centre. 

Interview With A Clown

How did you get into the clown industry?
Well I was always the class clown at school and in the holidays a family friend said that she had the perfect summer job for me. I later found out it was working that the local carnival as their clown. They taught me the basics of what i needed to do and it pretty much just felt right from that moment on.

How did you get your clown name?
Well where I was working that summer they had a tradition where at the end of the summer they would dub you with a name, it was a huge honer really. They named me 'Hobo Joe' because "Peppy Pete' because I was always happy and they never saw me frown.

Did you think you would be doing it this long?
Oh yes, I knew that summer that all I wanted to do was light up little kids faces, that moment where you see the light in their eyes, it melts my heart every time.

How do people react when you tell them your a clown?
Most people are purely jealous, ha I mostly work festivals and carnivals that come into town and occasionally travel around to different cities, i'm living the dream really.

What is your makeup routine to become 'Peppy Pete'?
Well I start off with the classic 'White Face' then i emphasise my eyebrows to make me constantly surprised, then I get lipstick, but I don't put it on my face, ha no I rub it onto my cheeks to create a
blushed effect. I use lipstick because it stays longer, blush falls away too quickly and if your sanding in the heat for long hours you tend to sweat and lipstick is the most effective way to maintain your look.

Well thank you Peppy Pete for allowing me to interview you. 

Circus Makeup

Joseph Grimaldi started the 'White face' trend int he 1800, He began by painting a white base over his face, neck and chest then adding red smudges on the cheeks, thick eyebrows and large red lips set in a mischievous grin. Grimaldi's design is used by many modern clowns.

Through the years styles have changed and evolved. This makeup tutorial displays a modern interpretation of a classic Circus Du Solely style. Using the colours to resemble what what the performer is portraying, for example this this look could work well for either a fire twirler or even an aquamarine interoperate performance. 

The limitations of what makeup can extrude from the performer are limitless, makeup may not be something that the audience can see from a far, but it is an essential element that builds story line and following the characters through their hardships or happy moments. they colours can determine their emotions in that act. 

If you wish to invest in some quality circus makeup Click Here.

Unique Circus Images.

 Here are some rare images that have been taken of unique acts through the 1800's.

Lady and the Serpent  

Russian Contortionist 

Lion Tamer 

Hippopotamus Trainer

Lion Trainer 

Clown with Hippopotamus Trainer

Knife Thrower with Assistant 

Knife Juggler 

Unicycle Rider. 

These images are treasured in the circus world as they reflect the life and atmosphere of what once was the age of a life time. Before WHS (Workplace Health & Safety) was brought into the picture, acts would perform amazing death defying tricks that would aww an audience to silence, this makes it harder for performers these days to impress the audiance to the standards that where set by the 1800's acts. 

P.T. BARNUM

P.T. Barnum

Barnum founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus, however was not only a discoverer of talent ha was an author, publisher, philanthropist and at one point a politician "I am a showman by profession...and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me" Barnum is credited for introducing the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute"

When he was 25, Barnum paid $1,000 to obtain the services of Joice Heth, a woman who claimed to be 161 years old and the nurse of George Washington. "Unquestionably the most astonishing and interesting curiosity in the world!" read one of Barnum's handbills. Barnum exhibited her in New York and New England, raking in about $1,500 per week.

P.T. Barnum was already referring to his enterprise as "The Greatest Show On Earth" -- and it was! "P.T. Barnum's Traveling World's Fair, Great Roman Hippodrome and Greatest Show On Earth" covered five acres and accommodated 10,000 seated patrons at a time ... and, to reach more people, took to the rails. - B

Barnum entered the circus world at 61 years old. He merged "P. T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome" with a traveling circus and museum of "freaks." It then became:

"P.T. Barnum's Travelling World's Fair, Great Roman Hippodrome and Greatest Show On Earth," 

Then in 1881 they merged again with James Bailey and James L. Hutchinson, "P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show On Earth, And The Great London Circus, Sanger's Royal British Menagerie and The Grand International Allied Shows United," Although this titles was too long, they then shortened it to "Barnum & Bailey's." This was then the largest circus the world had ever seen. - B

Circus Reincarnated

The face of circus has changed though the years, instead of having big red tents circus' are performing in arenas and amazing places like The Sydney Opera House.

Crazy circuses like Nitro Circus that involve motorbikes and crazy contraptions. 

Here are some highlights from their performances 

Classic Acts

The classic acts include

- Human Cannonball
The first human cannonball was launched in 1877 in London. It was a 14 year old girl called Zazel. Now I wouldn't try this at home, over 30 people have died due to technical difficulties with the safety net.


- Fire Breathing
Fire breathing is performed to enhance the entertainment of the show.  Professional fire breathers usually incorporate the element of danger as a great spectacle for the audience members.

- Knife Throwing 
Knife throwing is an art that takes mechanical measures to ensure the right amount of spins accrue in order for the knife to hit the target in the correct spot. Knife Throwing has been used in many pop culture movies lately, its the weapon of choice for Clove in the film 'The Hunger Games'.

- Strong Man 
The Strong man was always a large man who show the illusion they can lift 10x their weight. Strong men are usually portrayed wearing leopard skin togas and bulging mussels.

- The Bearded Lady 
Bearded ladies where commonly seen at the local 'freak show'. Women who where able to grow enough hair to cover their jaw line where desired within circus' as it was a trait that was vastly uncommon. Although towards the late 19th century women started removing it as there was a social stigma that started as freak shows faded out.

- Equilibristics  

Equilibrium is the art of balancing or maintaing equilibrium, it applies when a performer has the need to balance on a type rope or a trapeze, or if one was to be spinning plates. This also applies to stilts, unicycles, juggling, devil sticks and acro-balance. 

- Contortionists 
Contortionists are naturally more flexble than the average person. They then take this skill and train their bodies through intense acrobatic training to gain more flexibility. Although don't be disheartened, you can also become a contortionists, with time and practice anyone can get to the same level of flexibility.