It's an Ashton Circus, but not as you know it. Sixth-generation circus artist and show producer Joseph Ashton said Infamous was an adults-only, 18+ combination of circus acts and burlesque.
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"It's 50 per cent dancing and singing," he said.
The Big Top was reconfigured to resemble a Spiegeltent with some of the seats placed ringside with tables and an alcoholic bar service provided - one of the reasons for the restricted entry.
Infamous was derived from The Big Top Tease, an annual two-week season of racier performances Ashtons had been putting on in Perth for the past few years.
"It just went off," Ashton said.
He used his regular performers for the circus component of Infamous and recruited others from elsewhere in Australia and overseas.
German juggler Jan Albertson has worked with both the regular Ashtons circus and Infamous along with his partner, Australian contortionist Kim Upton, with whom he does a rag doll act.
Albertson said, "I've been in Australia for 10 years now and worked for Ashtons for seven years."
He graduated with a degree in geology but never worked in that field. Instead, he put his fondness for physical activity and practising things f to good use by becoming a juggler.
"l like the training, by spending hours you get the feeling you're getting better all the time."
Not that it drives away performance nerves.
"You're always confronting fears, there are still issues no matter how many times you do it."
Joseph Ashton's sister Bekki is an aerialist whose acts include the Wheel of Death and the flying trapeze although she said nowadays, "I save the hard stuff for the young ones" like her nephew Jordan and her daughter Dante.
At the age of "44 years and one day" as of Thursday, she said she had been in circus her whole life and she meant it quite literally: when she was just a few days old she was included in the performers' parade.
Infamous began in Perth in June and before moving east to Adelaide and Wagga Wagga and now Canberra. Joseph Ashton said he hoped it would tour "indefinitely" and said circus in Australia was more popular than ever despite changing times and tastes.
"Now, I can rattle off 15 circuses," he said. While he didn't consider Circus Oz or Cirque du Soleil to be circuses in the traditional sense he said they were still great shows.
"And there are two circuses starting next year."
Infamous is on in the Big Top on Majura Road, corner Spitfire Avenue (opposite Costco), Majura Park from November 10 to December 17, Friday to Sunday. For adults only:18+ Tickets: Section A $32.50. Section B $24.63. Ringside $95.20. Ringside Table $125.95. Bookings: 0411302095 or infamous.net.au.
