By Tanya Steele
Ferntree Gully played host to a number of star circus performers the past few weeks as Silvers Circus set up the big tent along Burwood Highway.
Young and old alike have been dazzled by the spectacular and mind boggling physical feats that the circus brought to town.
Simon Tait has clocked over 30 years as a ringmaster and illusionist and now works behind the scenes – he said has thoroughly enjoyed bringing the circus to the outer east.
“I love it – it’s not just a job though, it’s a lifestyle,” he said.
Silvers has a dedicated group of performers, from acrobats to jugglers to stunt people and even a troupe of cheeky but well trained dogs owned by Strong Man and dog whisperer Mohammed.
The current ringmaster is well known clown Walison Muh – who had recent success on Australia’s Got Talent in 2022, making it to the grand final.
The role combines the ringmaster with the clown – which is an evolution of the traditional bit of clowns being called to task by the ringmaster.
The audience is instead asked to join in for the fun and Muh brings his own style into the improvised sets – bringing people up onto the stage to be part of the show.
Silvers opened up again after being shut down due to Covid in 2022 and Tait said that Covid hit the show quite hard, halting the troupe’s tour while they were in Tasmania.
“Since COVID, people in the beginning when we reopened, they were cautious, but as time has gone on, people are just so hungry for entertainment, people are getting out in droves,” he said.
Tait said that the circus show has always been appealing to a broad demographic and that people love seeing live feats up close in real life.
“It really is people stretching themselves to the very limits of what is humanly possible – and that is just amazing,” he said.
“To see something right before your very eyes, it’s breathtaking.”
Tait loved being a Ringmaster – and said that every performance meant so much so personally.
“I used to get nervous, very nervous every time I went on stage, but every night I would come off so happy and exhausted,” he said.
Silvers operates and travels throughout Australia all year round and all the crew enjoy seeing different parts of the big continent.
“Every time you move to a new city or a new area or new suburb it’s like setting up the business all over again,” Tait said.
“I call myself a professional tourist, in the country it’s just lovely – the country people they’re different and kind of laid back.”
Becoming a circus performer can happen a number of ways – mostly through audition and Tait said that they often have ex-gymnasts and dancers entering the field and the troupe are like a big family.
“So many staff over the years they come along and some fall in love with the clown or the trapeze artist, then stay on,’ he said.
Circus skills are wonderful to learn for all ages and abilities and Tait said that there is a serious joy that kids get out of it and adults as well.
The numbers have been good over the September school holidays and Tait said he is glad that people are coming back out again to see the circus.
“The audience takes part in the show and there’s no bad language or violence – it’s wholesome entertainment,” he said.
“It is not just for kids, it is a show for everyone.”
Silvers Circus will be playing at the Ferntree Gully Hotel at 1130 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully until Sunday 8 October.
