Seeing more of Brisbane isn’t that hard to do I was surprised to see just how much is on every week, if not everyday, especially during September’s Brisbane Festival. So, on Thursday night, I took Mum with me to see the Fijian Flying Circus, and (spoiler alert!) we had a blast.

Since my first encounter at Cirque du Soleil as a girl, I’ve loved circuses and all the incredible performances peoplecome up with. When we saw this one was coming to town, I knew we had to go.

This circus is performed entirely by a Fijian dance tribe from VOU, a performing arts school established in 2007. In their own words, “VOU believes in providing sustainable and prosperous career paths for Fijian artists”, and they currently employ over 80 performers. This circus was founded in 2024, and seeks to combine traditional art with modern takes, preserving their culture and sharing it with the world.

Getting there

We took the bus in to Southbank station and walked along the shopfronts to find somewhere to eat. I had a list of a few places I wanted to try, but we settled on Vici, an Italian restaurant. You can read the full review here.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a scenic walk through Southbank towards the Piazza, where you could hear the performers before you saw them. The energy was electric outside the big top, with the performers dressed in traditional dance costumes with long grasses and beautiful headpieces.

They welcomed us inside, and we got to sit wherever we liked. Mum and I sat at the back, so she could have the support of the backrest, but there were plenty of chairs right around the stage too. I think our spots were among the best, as we got a really good view of the whole stage and performance. And what a performance!

The Show

I don’t want to give it all away to you here, as I highly recommend you attend and see it all for yourself, but I have to give my thoughts!

The show began with a song, the performer’s voices loud and resonant as they sang to welcome us. Gripped by their incredible voices and the perfect harmony, I realised it was a call to action as soon as the dancers came flying out, tumbling and spinning around the stage. They flew up and down the poles in the centre of the stage, holding themselves in all sorts of positions as they displayed their strength, agility and speed.

The energy was fantastic, compounded by upbeat music and the shouts from the dancers and the crowd.

When it was over, we met our funny emcee, who explained the story we were about to see: Loma, our protagonist, has her magic shoes stolen and must quest to find them again. She journeys through an enchanted world of cheeky forest spirits named ‘veli’, giants, and elemental forces.

We moved to the next act, with jugglers playing little games with each other, swapping props and dodging each other as they moved around. The talent and focus was evident, as each performer was capable of multiple talents and acts.

Loma’s incredible high-flying act was one of the best too. Hanging only from her hair, she soared around the big top, accompanied by soulful music that had us all rapt.

Funny moments were weaved into all the performances, especially in the drum act which followed. The drummers danced and moved together as they pounded away, then invited the audience in to participate by clapping along with them. The vibes were as great as the music, and you could tell the performers were having a blast too.

During the intermission I went for a little walk to stretch my legs, and I checked out some of their merchandise. The attendants were dressed in beautifully patterned dresses and outfits, but the poor things must have been freezing in the wind gusts! I bought a beautiful hair clip during the intermission, sticking it into my hair for the rest of the show.

They were extremely punctual, with the show starting and restarting exactly when they said. This part started with an aerial silk act, two performers in bright red soaring around the air. These acts are always so impressive, and I love the way that circuses show us what humans are truly capable of. It is magnificent to see the strength, trust and a hint of madness in these entertainers, who put their bodies on the line each night. I mean, you’ve got to be a thrill seeker to do this again and again!

There was a stunning trapeze act, followed by an incredible tightrope performance. These performers were all highly skilled, and each participated in multiple acts, showing their creativity and amazing work.

Each act was thoughtfully planned and executed well, with all the artists helping to move the props and stage pieces. I am interested in these extra parts of the show as much as the performance itself, and they moved around the stage so well you barely noticed how quickly they took down and set up each act.

The costumes were also lovely, with brilliant colours and a mix of traditional and newer looks. Mum is a sewist, so we always connect on these little details. She loves anything blue, so the final look of the emcee (a sparkly blue number with the Fijian flag as a cape) was her favourite, along with the long dresses of the giants. My favourites were all the bright red outfits, which popped incredibly against the stage, or the outfits in the first tumbling act.

I also noticed during one act the ripped stockings of a performer, which I loved. These performances mean everything to the artists who put on the show for us, and they work incredibly hard to be as fit, strong, and magical as they are. We saw Cirque du Soleil earlier this year, and as beautiful as that is, it can sometimes feel a little too polished. I love when you can see the effort put into the show, and these guys did an amazing job to entertain us for 120 fantastic minutes.

Summary

In all this was a wonderful show, and I gave a standing ovation to the performers (I was one of two who did so, but I’d absolutely do it again!). The story was great, the acts were gripping, and the charm of the artists was undeniable.

They finished by telling us a little more about the dance school they graduated from, which goes to the islands of Fiji to search for talent. The funds they raised from the show would go directly to supporting this school even further, and there was an opportunity to donate after the show as well, which we did too.

The performers were lovely as they farewelled us, taking photographs and shouting ‘bula!’ for the final time. It was a lovely night, and I cannot recommend attending enough. They will be in Brisbane until the 4th of October, and with tickets between $55.00 – $79.00, you can treat the whole family to a night of fun.