A young man dressed like a bird is flying through the air inside a large tent, held aloft by a group of people outside, their muscles straining as they pull a thick rope in Brisbane’s hot weather. These individuals, known as rope wranglers, are part of the performance, just as the acrobats and dancers are. The Fijian Flying Circus is a unique blend of performance and craftsmanship, where the same performers who entertain the audience are also responsible for building the stage, setting up the tent, and even installing the seats. Navi Fong, artistic director of Vou, the Fijian dance company behind the circus, explains that just a few days earlier, the performers were wearing hard hats and safety gear while constructing the venue. To Fong’s left is Michelle Seini Florence Barrack, a 21-year-old dancer and juggler who had been assembling scaffolding just hours before she would be juggling. To his right is Patrick Joseph Mecatric, also 21, who will perform aerial silks before working the snack stall during the break. Both are among the youngest in the troupe and value the mix of hard and soft skills they’ve gained. Mecatric has learned teamwork and accounting, while Barrack says the experience has helped her grow and support her family. When Vou launched the circus in 2024, the company was still learning technical and administrative skills while touring small towns in Fiji. The dancers had only been trained in circus arts for a year before taking the show abroad, performing in places like Tahiti, New Caledonia, New Zealand, and now Australia. This journey reflects the company’s ambition and determination to grow. Vou, which means “new” in Fijian, was founded with the goal of creating art that reflects contemporary Fijian life. Fong, who joined as a teenager, says the company’s blend of traditional and modern dance was born from a desire to tell stories that resonate with today’s youth. Inside the big top, the show unfolds in a “mystical world” filled with playful spirits and elemental forces, loosely based on the story of a young girl seeking an enchanted shoe from a mischievous spirit. The energetic cast, all graduates of Vou’s training program, perform a mix of traditional and contemporary acts, including juggling, trapeze, tightrope walking, and aerial stunts. They alternate between singing, dancing, and using physical theatre to engage the audience. Traditional Fijian costumes, such as vesa (arm and calf bands made from hibiscus bark) and liku vau (hibiscus bark skirts), are worn alongside sequined outfits, creating a unique and vibrant style. The Fijian Flying Circus is in Brisbane until 4 October, then will travel to Melbourne from 17 October to 22 November, and Sydney from 12 December to 10 January 2027.