It’s not often that the town of Ballarat becomes host to elite circus and sideshow artists from around the world. Returning to the humble town for the second time since its debut in 2015, the World Sideshow Festival brings together the most unusual entertainment on the planet, with crowds likely to squirm as these acts take on new challenges and experiments with an aim to shock, according to festival director (and performer) Shep Huntly.
“The World Sideshow Festival is a collection of elite theatrical events. I suppose sideshows best describes extreme or unusual circus. In the olden days, sideshow was all the things that didn’t fit into the circus – so it was all the little tents that you would see on your way,” Huntly says. “Sideshow was like a little subculture for so long, but I think it’s just so cool and appealing, and if people are sort of brave enough to come, they will really love it,” Huntly says.
Since 1999, Huntly has been a touring elite sideshow artist, travelling to 26 countries around the world performing circus and sideshow stunts, while also searching and scouring the world for the best acts in the business. As a result, he has curated a line-up of unusual entertainment to include artists coming from all over the world (and even Ballarat local Emma J Hawkins) to delight crowds with their extraordinary feats of skills and concentration.
“I’ve got people coming from Canada, people coming from Norway, people coming from Germany and England so when I say it’s an international event, it really is – the best of the best coming to Ballarat for three nights only,” he says.
“There’s this guy called The Headmaster and he is all the way from Norway. I ran into him in Perth two or three years ago and I just thought if I could afford to have him, I’m definitely going to get him. He said to me, ‘in a couple of years I’m going to retire’, and I just thought I need to get him now or I’ll never get him again. He is pretty hardcore – he literally is true sideshow royalty.”
The Headmaster who pushes his body and mind to the limits with brutal aesthetic and extreme body control is not the only performing act. Others to check out include Canada’s The Monsters of Schlock – the best comedy sideshow duo in the world for their first ever and only appearance in Australia, The Great Orbax and Sweet Pepper Klopek who perform insane stunts, a celebration of girl power with The Wild Women of Sideshow as well as The League of Sideshow Superstars, which features five of Australia’s finest sideshow artists, including the world’s tallest contortionist and the world’s strangest strong man.
“The league of sideshow superstars is an amazing cast who between them hold 14 Guinness world records, and in the show they will be either equalling or breaking at least three or four of those world records live on stage. It’s phenomenal. These people are pretty special.”
One in particular to look out for is the world’s only sword swallowing acrobat Aerial Manx: “Seriously, he swallows the sword and then he can do back-flips. There’s no tricks,” he says, “that’s the thing about sideshows, none of it’s magic. It’s 100 per cent real and it’s not crazy either – it’s completely considered.”
However, for those new to the sideshow scene, Huntly recommends coming to the Opening Night Cabaret to allow audiences to choose what shows to see over the weekend. “In that, you get like a few minutes of each act – sort of like a showcase. So you get to see a little bit of everything.
“Whatever anyone chooses to come and see, it will be the top of the tree. No one will be disappointed.”
With the festival only days away, it is clear that this years festival is set to be bigger and better than before. “It’s starting to grow into its name and become the World Sideshow Festival. There’s nothing else like it, not only in Australia, but nothing else like it in the world.
When & Where: Mechanics Institute, Ballarat – May 11 – 13
Tickets via www.worldsideshowfestival.com
Written by Talia Rinaldo
