Circus to thrill ’em all

A COMPACT, portable circus troupe established to tour regional and metro venues without the need for a Big Top will bump in and out of Ulumbarra Theatre on Sunday 25 January.

Circus Nouvelle, which is made up of nine performers on stage, two backstage crew and a solitary stage manager, is the brainchild of acrobatic jugglers and troupe members, wife and husband duo Rebecca and James Capener.

Capener said her team is “very proud” to present the upcoming run of shows, which also take in Wangaratta, Geelong and Ballarat (among others).

“Circus is one of those really great genres that’s always going to be around – it sells itself in a sense,” she said.

“Honing in on the traditions and the people who’ve gone before us for many, many years and created the foundation is so important.

“It’s important to honor and remember that and also keep building and making it bigger and better and more spectacular as the years go on.

“But, we’re also trying to bring it in a new way, an evolution with all the effects, the costumes, the lighting, the set, and making it that grand spectacle in a theatre environment.

“The challenge is to be able to perform such a high risk show in such high pressure situations and make it look effortless. It’s all part of the fun and we’re passionate about what we do.”

Cirque Nouvelle – A New Evolution of Circus visits Ulumbarra on Sunday 25 January, 2026.

Tickets are available on GoTix.