Circus 1903 explores the golden age of circus at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre

The puppeteers behind War Horse created mother Queenie and baby Peanut, the star performers of Lawson’s new show with partner Simon Painter.

“I don’t know if anyone will have ever seen anything like it before on a stage. It surpassed our expectations.”

The team behind the smash hit The Illusionists — originally slated for a 10-day season at the Sydney Opera House four years ago which has since played 250 cities in more than 25 countries — are looking forward to their Regent Theatre residency.

“I can’t wait, being a Melbourne boy. I basically spend more time in aeroplanes than in my home in South Yarra.”

Usually running three to four companies at the same time, he’s just back from an opening of The Illusionists at the Folies Bergère in Paris before heading off to another in New York’s Times Square.

“I’m home for two days, then I go to Singapore to open Cirque Adrenaline.”

He said Circus 1903 had the same charm as The Illusionists, being based in the same era and harking back to old-fashioned circus arts such as knife-throwing, hand to hand acrobatics and aerial ballet.

“It evokes the atmosphere of being in the Big Top but you don’t have to wade through the sawdust and the dirt.” he said.

“This is the first time we’ve brought the high-wire into the theatre. None of these acts use safety wire at all. It’s literally death-defying.

“It’s incredible how it appeals to such a wide demographic ... grandparents bring their grandchildren, it’s date night, groups of men come to the theatre by themselves, families, everything. It’s just wonderful. It just focuses on the outstanding talent of these artists.”

The cast, assembled by Painter, is from all corners of the globe.

“Every year with our shows you get a whole new company that’s coming to see Australia for the first time and they just fall in love with Australia. No one wants to leave,” he said.

For his “hobby” away from the circus, Lawson has produced Fiddler on the Roof, Chitty, Chity, Bang, Bang and the first-ever staging of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Singapore — “They absolutely went crazy” — and will tour The Wedding Singer in the UK in January.

But it’s all worth it, he said.

“The end game is when you sit and watch 2000 people wherever you are being captivated by the show and being entertained, especially the faces of the children.”

Circus 1903: The Golden Age of Circus is at the Regent Theatre from January 3-12. Details: circus1903.com/australia