The circus is in town - but not as you may know it.
The venerable Great Moscow Circus has gone extreme.
It's put up the big top in Gungahlin, still focusing on the mind-boggling athleticism of its trapeze artists and acrobats, but veered a little from the traditional.
The circus' Aussie manager Jeff Weber has also introduced free-styling scooters and BMX riders for some extra edge. And a 10-year-old motorbike cage rider in the Globe of Death.
It's a canny reinvention of the circus, which in the ACT cannot have performing animals. And the packed skateparks around the national capital are proof that the younger generation is obsessed with anything on wheels.
Jeff's daughter Tahlia is a seventh-generation circus performer and now manages the performances.
"He had this vision about this freestyle act for a long time, because no ones done it in Australia in the circus," she said.
"We do have an extreme show and it just fits perfectly in with our program.
"We have the Globe of Death. We have our youngest cage rider in there, he's 10-years-old and he's the youngest rider ever to ride with three motorbikes. He's definitely a drawcard.
"We also have the Wheel of Death, we have Elly, our vocalist, who is amazing."
There is also incredibly strong pole acrobat duo Giselle Souza and Edison Acero from Brazil and Colombia who set a Guinness World Record earlier this year for the longest time to maintain a human flag while supporting a person in handstand position (17.75 seconds).
"It's just non-stop action from start to finish," Tahlia said.
Among the young performers in the circus is 21-year-old scooter rider Rhys Rogers who came first in the 2022 Nitro World Games, even beating the famous R-Willy aka Ryan Williams.
In the games, Rhys performed the world's first triple back-flip, no hander, beating Williams by one point.
He's only been in the circus since March, after starting on his scooter when he was six.
"After school, with my friends, we'd go ride at skate parks and it started from there," he said.
Rhys' dad is horse trainer Trevor Rogers, who always encouraged his son to try scooter competitions. Rhys was nine when he entered his first comp - for under 16-year-olds.
"I got a good placing and my dad was like, 'Keep at it'," Rhys said.
He's since travelled to Barcelona twice for world finals and Japan for demo shows.
"So being in the circus, it's not new to me, I'm used to competition and crowds," Rhys said.
"I don't really get nervous in front of people, I get nervous to do my tricks. Even though I've been doing it for so long, it still scares me. Anything can happen."
Freestyle BMX rider Nathan Freeman, 25, from Melbourne joined the circus two years ago.
"I love travelling, it's my favourite thing in the world. Riding and travelling. This brings them both together," he said.
Freeman said he loved the reactions from the kids who came to the circus.
"You're being a positive role model for them to go out and try some of it," he said.
- The Great Moscow Circus Extreme is in Gungahlin until November 17. Tickets and times are at www.greatmoscowcircus.com.au/
