Francisco Reyes remembers his first circus performance at only 11 years old when he took to the solo trapeze with his father standing ringside to calm his nerves. Now 27 years later the dedicated 38-year-old from Chile doesn’t need his father by his side to pull off the amazing acrobatic feats he’s become known for.
Francisco has been travelling around Australia with Circus Royale for five years and is in Bunbury until February 19 to perform with his own family.
Francisco said he is a sixth generation circus performer whose mother and father taught him everything he knows.
His mother was a solo trapeze performer like himself but stopped practicing after an accident broke both her legs and his father was a “strong man” who shattered rocks with sledgehammers on his stomach.
It might seem strange to some, but a completely normal childhood for Francisco began with being dressed as a clown and thrown in the ring to entertain.
“That’s how everyone begins when they’re young, as a clown,” he said.
“It’s the first step before you pick an act you love, some become acrobats, contortionists or daredevils. My own son is juggling at the moment and my daughter is a contortionist.”
Francisco has two sons, Johnathon and Francisco Jr, and a daughter, Suzzana – who just won gold at the Australian Circus Festival for her ability to twist herself into strange positions.
Even though the skills required to ride a motorcycle around a spherical cage or master the trapeze are extraordinary, Francisco said being a clown is the toughest job in the circus.
“It’s tough to do, and it’s tough to find one that can do it well,” he said.
“Riding around a cage is impressive, but making the audience laugh requires a different kind of skill and it all rests on the clown to prime the audience for the show.
“The clown’s responsibility is to create atmosphere and get the everyone cheering, otherwise it’s a lot harder for the other performers to do their acts in complete silence.”
While his time in Australia and with Circus Royale may be coming to an end after five years of touring the country, Francisco is adamant he will be “clowning until death.”
Visit circusroyale.com for tickets to see Francisco and the rest of the amazing acts at Circus Royale in Bunbury.
Blayde Grzelka
Journalist for the Bunbury Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Journalist for the Bunbury Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
