Roundabout performers bring Wild at Heart energy to Love Lanes

There’s something special about performing in a place that already feels like home. That’s exactly what it felt like for Roundabout Circus at the Love Lanes Festival in Wyong.

Sarah from Roundabout Circus shares her experience with us.

Love Lanes Festival is unlike any other event on the Central Coast. It celebrates community, connection, and one of our oldest suburbs by transforming the historic laneways between buildings into vibrant, living spaces filled with music, art, food, and joy. From the moment we arrived, there was a buzz in the air - families exploring, friends reconnecting, laughter echoing through the streets. The festival radiates warmth and belonging. It’s not just about entertainment; it’s about finding love in all the ‘Wyong’ places.

Roundabout Circus was positioned in the Village Central car park section of the festival, surrounded by activated play spaces, market stalls, delicious food vendors, and the entire Wyong Shopping Village. It was the perfect pocket of energy. With plenty of space for audiences to gather, play, and fully immerse themselves in the experience.

The crowd was beautifully diverse. Ladies, gentlemen, boys, girls, non-binary folk, and everyone in between. Smiling faces everywhere you looked. That’s what circus is about: everyone is welcome.

Taking on the role of both MC and performer is a thrilling balancing act. Being an MC means reading the crowd, holding the energy of the space, and keeping the atmosphere vibrant and connected. It’s about staying switched on, aware of what’s happening on stage, backstage, and in the audience all at once.

Performing, on the other hand, is about connection in a different way. It’s about becoming a mirror, creating moments where the audience sees themselves reflected in what you’re expressing on stage.

Preparing for each role feels different. When I’m performing, I feel grounded in my act. But as an MC, I have to be ready for anything. Live shows are beautifully unpredictable, and that’s what makes them magic. Improvising, thinking on the fly, and even asking the crowd for their best (or worst!) jokes to calm my nerves is all part of the fun.

My absolute favourite moment as MC at Love Lanes? Inviting everyone to hold the hand of the person next to them. Reminding them that holding hands lowers cortisol and boosts dopamine.

The performances throughout the day was phenomenal. We showcased troupe solos and duo acts, with students flying high on aerial apparatus and grooving on the ground to some of today’s biggest love hits. There were routines created especially for Love Lanes, alongside competition pieces that have already made waves.

Two standout moments included:

• Lana’s award-winning Puss in Boots-themed trapeze routine was graceful, strong, and captivating.

• Viper, a former student now touring Australia with a Big Top circus, returned to share their incredible talent.
  

We also featured emerging and professional artists from across the Central Coast, highlighting what’s possible when passion meets hard work within a supportive community.

The audience didn’t hold back. Cheering, volunteering, dancing, grooving. The engagement was electric.

Backstage is always a mix of nerves and excitement. For our students, performing at a public event like this is thrilling. For our professional artists, it’s a chance to create and play without the pressure of a rigid touring schedule. The energy is vibrant, supportive, and full of love.

Events like Love Lanes are crucial for local arts. They reconnect families and residents on a human level. They transform everyday laneways into colourful, interactive spaces. They remind us that art belongs everywhere, not just behind ticketed doors.

Circus in a community space changes the energy entirely. It’s immediate. It’s accessible. It invites participation. It sparks inspiration in kids and leaves parents wide-eyed and amazed.

This is what we do best at Roundabout - creating connection through movement, laughter, and shared experience.

Every time I step on stage, whether as an MC or performer, I learn something. Something to refine. Something to add. Something to carry forward.

There are always moments where I pause internally and think, this is why I do this.

For the smiles. Performing at Love Lanes left me feeling exactly what the festival promises: love.

What’s Next?

You can catch Roundabout Circus out in the community again this weekend at the Girakool Blues Festival, where we’ll be hosting:

• A circus play space

• An aerial play space

• A glow flow space later in the evening

If you’re looking for an event where you leave belly laughing, feeling part of the show, and thinking, “Whoa… how do they do that?” — then that’s reason enough to come along.

You can get involved by visiting our website, giving us a call, popping into the studio, or grabbing one of our Discovery Passes.

Come join the fun. Come find your flow. Come experience the love.