The Great Moscow Circus has cancelled its Ballarat tour, just days after the show visited Bendigo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ticket holders were left in limbo after performers were told at the last minute that last night’s opening show would not go ahead at the Ballarat showgrounds.
The show had been in Bendigo from March 2 to March 12 and was due to run for five days in Ballarat.
The Great Moscow Circus said “very soft ticket sales” were the reason for cancelling its tour in Ballarat in a Facebook post on the Ballarat event page.
The message was posted to the Facebook page shortly before 6pm yesterday – an hour-and-a-half before the opening performance.
In a separate post this morning on The Great Moscow Circus Facebook page, TicketDirect has confirmed refunds would be issued for tickets already purchased.
The post also said the South Australian shows in Murray Bridge and Adelaide had been cancelled.
The posts made no mention of comments made to The Courier by an event organiser contracted by the circus that the business had gone into liquidation.
Event manager Patrick Anderson told The Courier Edgley Attractions, which is running the circus, went into liquidation on Monday.
Mr Anderson, who has been working on a contract with Moscow Circus, said international crew members have been left stranded and without pay.
The Great Moscow Circus, which has become a household name in country towns through its touring performances for more than 50 years in Australia, has also left veteran performers despairing about their future.
Performer Rushat Polaschuk, who lives in Cairns, said they were told on Wednesday that the 7.30pm show was cancelled.
“I don’t know what I’ll do, hopefully work cover will support me,” he said.
- Jessica Black, The Courier