The circus came to town last week with Temora playing host to Circus Arlo with the first of five shows getting underway on Thursday 28 May at 7pm. They played to almost full houses for all their shows with a Las Vegas style program including magic illusions, knife throwing and even a crossbow act as well as aerial acts, clowns and a juggler. Ringmaster Jessie Daley said that it's very much a family affair with most of the staff forming his immediate family. “Even the staff that are brought in for the contracts, they're pretty much like family at the end of the day. So, it's one big traveling family,” Mr Daley said. “The clowns in the show are our family members. “So, it's my four-year-old son and his uncle who's 15 they're our two junior clowns.” Mr Daley has been involved in circuses since he was 10 years old starting with Ashton’s circus and partner, Angela Brown is a fifth-generation circus performer. “The little fella is now sixth generation, so it is definitely in the blood,” he said. “He's our upcoming star performer. “He's already the star of the show. “No two shows are the same with him, and it all depends how much fairy floss he's had beforehand,” Mr Daley laughs. Circus Arlo is a smaller circus and has kept that way so that it can bring the thrill of the circus to smaller communities that larger shows don’t visit. “Those communities sort of miss out on seeing live entertainment,” Mr Daley continued. “So, we like to keep our show as small as we can with as small a staff as we can, but still spectacular and hit all those small towns as well as being one of the most affordable circuses in the country.” The tent houses 220 people and is a perfect size for the size of the show and the common consensus from those attending was that it was a great show. There was audience participation with adding to the fun with unsuspecting dad’s called upon to work with the clown’s knife throwing efforts, which was all in good fun with no danger of a clown throwing a knife. Prices are kept low to ensure as many people as possible can see the show with tickets as low as $15. Mr Daley said that they also like to give something back to each community they visit offering complimentary tickets to schools, day care centres and the businesses that hang their posters. “We definitely like the smaller towns. It's just the country vibe,” Mr Daley said. “Everyone knows each other. “When you pull someone out of the audience, they all know who it is and it brings a great reaction.” The circus is not just glitz and glamour with a lot of hard work going on outside of the performing. Having a small compliment of staff means that everyone pitches in from setting up and packing down to selling hot food. Ms Brown said the circus will be definitely coming back to Temora next year.
