Royal Canadian Family Circus鈥� big top is once again taking over a parking lot at Surrey鈥檚 Guildford Town Centre for a 12-show run, starting this Friday (May 31).
It鈥檚 the third time the 52-year-old travelling circus is making a stop in Surrey, but expect to see all new acts, said ringmaster Joseph Dominic Bauer.
鈥淎lmost every act in the show is brand new,鈥� the ninth-generation daredevil performer said, standing inside the big top right before a recent show in Richmond.
鈥淓ven the Chinese artists, the flying trapeze that opens the show is the top flying trapeze act in North America. They鈥檝e been to many major circuses like Barnum & Bailey, Big Apple Circus in New York. They鈥檝e toured all over the world.鈥�
The only act that鈥檚 returning from last year is Bauer鈥檚, the white-knuckle-inducing Wheel of Destiny.
He encouraged locals to check out this year鈥檚 show, Spectac!, which is described as 鈥渏am packed with explosive live entertainment bringing tradition and thrilling acts featuring Xtreme Chinese Acrobats including chair balancing, contortion, diablo, and towering feats of balancing strength, the Flying Cortes Trapeze family, acrobatics, death-defying Wheel of Destiny, Comedy fearless Gonzalez Motorcycle Globe, Hula Hoops, MotoSwing athleticism and beautiful Aerialists.鈥�
The 2,700-seat big top was set to be erected in Guildford Tuesday, after wrapping up a six-show run in Tsawwassen.
And it鈥檚 quite the operation.
鈥淲e have 14 semis, and we鈥檙e self-contained in terms of power,鈥� explained Bauer. 鈥淭he crew sets up everything you see, lighting, sound, so we move fast.鈥�
It takes a team of approximately 70 people to make the show happen 鈥� that incldues 30 performers, 20 workers, and another 20 hired locally in each locale.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 a lot of planning.鈥�
Circus is truly 鈥渢he oldest form of family entertainment,鈥� said Bauer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 never been censored. We鈥檙e celebrating 250 years of modern circus. I think it鈥檚 something for the whole family, they don鈥檛 have to have their phones on, seeing trick photography or anything, it鈥檚 all live entertainment. I think that鈥檚 why we鈥檙e still doing it, and I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 going to go away.鈥�
Bauer said for him, and the other performers in the show, 鈥渃ircus is in our blood.鈥�
He first performed at the age of five in Japan.
鈥淢y mom did a show at an amusement park and they just had me come out and do a handstand. That was my first. That was it, I watched everything they did and I couldn鈥檛 wait to do it,鈥� said Bauer. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 stay at home that long. It鈥檚 OK for a while but I have to be back in the circus and direct, and help new artists coming in the business, teaching the ropes.鈥�
And the artform certainly isn鈥檛 losing momentum, said Bauer.
鈥淭here鈥檚 over 300 circus schools in North America. Probably the oldest circus school is down in Florida where I live. They鈥檙e celebrating 75 years. Cirque du Soleil has fabulous circus schools, so they鈥檙e all over,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just about getting into it. Is it really your bag? Because it is a lot of work.鈥�
Visit for more details and showtimes. Use promo code Spectac for a two-for-one deal.
