‘Magic tricks, jugglers…really funny clowns’ – VOU gives life to Fiji’s first circus show

Fiji is the latest country to throw its hat in the ring to produce its very first circus show.

With a full cast of Fijians, the show blends the spectacle of circus with the power of storytelling found in dance.

This experience weaves comedy, theatre, dance as well as thrilling circus acts together to bring a unique and magical story to life: A story of the Fijian Flying Circus.

RNZ Pacific spoke to VOU dance company director Sachiko Soro, who said there is plenty for the audience to see.

”We’ve got we’ve got acrobats, we’ve got my steel, which is really, really high poles that they work on.

“We’ve got ladies hanging from their hair, we’ve got aerial silks, we’ve got magic tricks, jugglers.”

”Of course, in Fijian fashion, we’ve got some really funny clowns as well as some dancing. So yeah, a lot to look forward to,” she said.

The performers have been training for more than a year with the help of coaches from Cuba.

Soro said five circus trainers came over from Havana and two of them were coaches at the National Circus School in the Caibbean nation.

“They’ve been training the Fijian dancers at the VOU dance company for over a year into these like different specialised skills,” she said.

“I’m just so proud of all the artists, they’ve really grown themselves into all of their training and like, fused it with some of their cultural storytelling and the outcome is just like. It’s really beautiful.

“I just can’t wait to show it to our communities in Fiji,” Soro added.

The show runs from 26 June to 6 July in Nadi.

International tour dates are yet to be announced.

Ticket prices

• General Entry – FJ$8.00 (Side Facing Seats)
• Premium Seats – FJ$15.00 (Forward Facing Seats)
• VIP Circus Experience – FJ$40.00 (Best Seats in the House and a VOU Souvenir)