The Famous Speigeltent arrives

THE Famous Speigeltent has arrived in the Northern Rivers for the second time, painstakingly reconstructed for the National Circus Festival opening tonight, Friday, October 4.

The original Famous Spiegeltent is regarded as the most beautiful of the last remaining Belgian Spiegeltents. The unique travelling venue regularly appears at the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals and, for 100 years, has hosted some of the world’s greatest performing artists, including legendary star Marlene Dietrich.

Transported in a set of two 12-metre shipping containers in which it travels the world, the venue was originally transported by horse and cart and is set up seamlessly without nails or screws.

Partnerships and Marketing Manager for National Circus Festival and Spaghetti Circus, Marisa Snow, in the newly constructed venue. Photo: DAVID COPE

National Circus Festival director and Spaghetti Circus general manager Alice Cadwell said watching it being built was a beautiful thing.

“Rich Morrod, my partner, is the tent boss,” Cadwell said.

“From the frame going together, and all the wood pieces going in, and finally the mirrors and the crushed velvet curtains, and the facade painted by Mark Ogge, is such a stunning thing.”

“Every time I see it go up, it reminds me of everywhere in the world. Rich and I travelled with it for over 20 years.

Festival director Alice Cadwell and performers Corie Hurry and Hana Fiesta. Photo: DAVID COPE

“Our eldest, Alex, is 16 and was born while we were full-time on the road with the tent. Seeing it stand here in Mullum at the base of Mount Chincogan is very special.”

Cadwell said the trend was kicked off 25 years ago when David Bates staged La Clique at the Edinburgh Festival.

“From this one show, we travelled all over the world with the tent, and then Spiegeltents started popping up at festivals everywhere. This one is so special because it is the original, the most famous, and in 1920s original condition.

The Famous Spiegeltent is painstakingly fitted together without nails or screws. Photo: DAVID COPE

“My favourite moment in the tent’s history is Dietrich singing Falling in Love Again in the 1920s. When we travelled the world with the tent, we would play it as the last song of the night – goose bumps every time.”

Australia’s best circus artists deliver a world-class program from October 4 to 7.

For information and tickets, visit nationalcircusfestival.com