You don't have to be big to be beautiful, according to Circus Aotearoa ringmaster Damien Gordon.
The circus swings into action at the lakefront today and while it might be smaller than many, this circus had plenty of thrills, he said.
"People will enjoy the intimacy of the show and personality of the performers. We are not just faceless people doing spectacles.
"The people who show you to your seats and who serve your candyfloss are the people who, next minute, you will see performing in the ring," he said.
While animal entertainment has well and truly had its day, aerial antics have not.