Circus performers happy to be back
It could just be the first circus in the world to trapeze back into action since Covid-19 and it’s happening in Taranaki.
Zirka Circus’ Into the Future Tour begins in New Plymouth today and the circus will perform 13 shows before moving to Ha¯wera on June 19.
‘‘Zirka Circus is the first circus in the world, we believe, to be operating since Covid-19,’’ general manager Paul Johnson said.
The circus also claims to have another first – a 12-metre aquariumthemed hologram.
‘‘Which is quite spectacular,’’ Johnson said.
The light show accompanies the Globe of Death, where motorcyclists ride in a huge metal cage ball, pole stunts and acrobatics.
All events in New Zealand were cancelled when the country moved into Alert Level 4 lockdown on March 25 but now many small-scale events are starting up again.
With social distancing guidelines in place, each Zirka show would only be able to accommodate 100 people.
All attendees would need to fill out a contact tracing register on arrival and the interactive audience element of the show has been removed.
Due to the 100-person limit, Johnson said tickets would sell out so should be booked online.
But even with a series of sell-outs, it wasn’t going to make enough to cover their costs, he said.
‘‘But it’s getting the circus up and running and performers performing in front of people.
‘‘The community are ready for it, and they really need that entertainment.’’
The entertainment industry had suffered more than tourism, Johnson believed, and they depended on the community coming out and supporting events.
‘‘We’re just happy to be up and running,’’ he said.