Lennon Brothers Circus





Circus in the Roman Colosseum, slave athletes fought to the death, or freedom against each other and animals, offered daring equestrian and spectacular chariot races for the entertainment of the gregarious Roman population. As the dark ages settled into Europe, the art of circus was all but forgotten. Touring performers and beggars presented at bazaars their trained animals, acrobatic feats and riders kept circus fire kindling in the hearts of people the world over.

Out of the ashes… …

Through the same eyes of a child in the seventies, I look out across the Lennon Brothers arena. The atmosphere under the Big Top is almost romantic and with a “straw house” on a Friday night… their fire warms my heart… I remember my parents taking me when the Circus came to town, now I’ve brought my own children.

Lennon Brothers Circus is the oldest family run circus in Australia. The Lennon family also manages the Stardust and Barton’s Circus and they’re not ready to retire. A few years ago Lennon Brothers took their entire ensemble through every country town from Sydney to Adelaide then Perth, Darwin, Alice Springs and back to Adelaide before settling again in Sydney.

The Ringmaster whistles performance as a drum roll rumbles for the “beast master”… Lennon Brothers offer the only two lion shows left in Australia, performing in NSW while “Stardust” performs for Victoria. Steve the Lion Tamer offered me the rare chance to come in to a training cage for his younger lions… I looked Steve square in the eyes and with a stern voice I made sure he understood without question that I was chickening out. But at Lennon Brothers it’s all about the animals… BeastMasterSteve told me that Lennon Brothers spend around thirty percent of their net profits flying back and forth to Canberra in an effort to stay on top of animal rights and do what it takes to continue their mobile show by the books. They really do love their animals. At the old “Bullen’s Animal World” Lennon Brothers have a place for the care and breeding of animals they train for their circus. Lions, monkeys, ponies, horses, dogs, ducks, goats, camels, and llamas just to name a few.

Even at a time when every kid around is permanently welded to a patch of carpet in front of their “playstation” or “X-box”… the real life fun and games under the “Big Top” is easily a match for the electronic stuff.

The entire ensemble a very professional outfit… I took my kids to the circus on a Saturday night and of course they loved it… My wife however was a surprise after telling me for a week that she would be just as happy to stay at home. Once the lights changed and the show started… … she nestled in with the rest of us enchanted by the magic “greatest show on earth”. A Court Jester juggled fire with expert skill while clowns beat one another around the centre ring. I tapped my eldest daughter on the shoulder and pointed at her mum, hypnotised by a flying act. While she watched at the edge of her seat she almost let out a scream when they seemed doomed to fail.

It was good for my family to spend some real non-television quality time together. Good for our souls to know there’s still a little circus magic in the world.

Thankyou very much Lennon Brothers. Story by Bullshit Bill, Edited by Tess Meyer All photos, Bill’s Stills.

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