Friday, 29 June 2012, 9:00PM – 10:00PM
This brand new documentary offers a unique insight into life on the road with one of Britain’s oldest family circuses.
The Paulo family has been performing in circuses since the 1800s. Having spanned a number of generations, the Paulo family are currently running their own circus, led by Big Kenny with the help of his wife, Kath, and their three sons, Kenny Junior, Leigh and Patrick.
Being part of a circus means there are great highs that come from the satisfaction of the crowd, but this doesn’t come without a number of lows.
Life on the road can be tough. As well as it being hard to maintain relationships, things most people take for granted such as water, electricity and internet access are in short supply.
Big Kenny is worried about low ticket sales, and rising petrol prices are also cause for huge concern.
Amanda, who is a distant relative of the Paulo’s and is a trapeze artiste and horse trainer for the circus, worries about the constant abuse she receives from protesters against animals in circuses.
Big Kenny’s oldest son, Kenny Junior, and his wife, Teddy, currently both perform in the circus, but they have a four-year-old daughter and, as she approaches school age, they realise the importance of education and consider whether a life on the road is right for them.
Meanwhile, ringmaster Leigh, and Big Kenny’s middle son, has fallen in love with a non circus girl who doesn’t want him to travel, so could his future with the circus be coming to an end?
As Big Kenny fights to keep the circus together, will 21st century pressures force them off the road?
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