Circus star comes home

For Circus Oz performer April Dawson, performing at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre will be the highlight of her three years with the company.

The versatile Melbourne-based performer grew up in Busselton and performed on the stage at BREC in Eisteddfods as a child.

Seeing Circus Oz’s promotional posters on the walls of the venue was a source of inspiration for the performer and she will now return to that stage as one of the production’s 11 stars.

“I’m really excited and have to say that over the last three years, this is what I’ve been looking forward to,” she said.

Dawson combines acrobatics, trapeze, dance, juggling and even soprano trombone in a hard-working performance.

It is a full-time job for Dawson, who spends most of her days at the circus’ custom-built training facility in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood.

She described Circus Oz as an exciting show, which also featured strong women in powerful roles.

“I think people will be surprised because they have a specific notion of what a circus is and expect old-school clowns,” she said.

“This is quite unique as it’s grungy and rock-and-roll at times and set to a live band.

“The scale of the show is one thing and also the amount of regional touring we do.

“There are so many special things about it, and this job is a dream come true.”

Circus Oz will be performed at BREC on Saturday and Sunday.