Circus Olé features two traditional circus families, the De Silvas (Snuff Puppets) with their famous Animal Kingdom and the Fabulous Farelli Family (acrobat), highly skilled acrobats and aerialists.
After the Royal Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals removed the De Silvas’ animals in the 1980s, they built giant puppet ‘substitutes’: life-sized dogs, cows, flying seagulls, a crocodile and even a seven-tonne elephant. Economic hardship then forced the De Silvas and Farellis to combine forces and create this astonishingly unique show.
As the audience enters, the Circus Olé Band play popular tunes whilst the set becomes alive with circus characters warming up and preparing for the big show.
The families’ live-in caravans are used as the backdrop and set, revealing to the audience an intimacy that is both humble and romantic. Audiences enjoy the genuinely skilful, dangerous and absorbing circus acts whilst witnessing the struggles that come with running an impoverished circus.
Starring: Fearless Phyllis and Dazzel De Silva, Daredevil Buddy Farelli and Hose Rodriguez Martinez Farelli – with their death-defying, high-flying talents. Our mesmerizing menagerie of exotic animals and their fearless handlers – Johnny the Man-Eating Crocodile, Kareem the African Elephant with high-riding trainer Mustapha Saleem, Lucy and Lu Lu the rare giant Chinese Mathematical Dogs and Laurent, elegantly handled by Miss Froo Froo.
So come on down, step right up, kick back and enjoy a great time out with the whole family at Circus Olé!
We honour and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional custodians of Country. Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land.