50up Circus

Meet John!

Performing with 50-Up Sydney Fringe

John is 61 and began hand-balancing at 55. He performs on canes and trains at Avion Aerial Circus School. John made his 50-Up Circus debut at the 2025 Sydney Fringe Festival, impressing audiences with his strength, control and gravity-defying skills

📅 Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 Sep
⏰ 12 noon
📍The Virago, Fool's Paradise, Entertainment Quarter

🎟️ Ticket link in bio
Or
https://sydneyfringe.com/events/50-up-the-rewind/





John Stanton
Sydney Fringe
Avion Aerial Circus School
Fool's Paradise
Entertainment Quarter

Are you ever too old to try something new?

Our co-producer Hazel shares how she discovered circus and why getting older doesn’t mean making your life smaller.

Thank you Starts at 60 for sharing her story.

See our new show The Sydney Fringe
📅 Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September
⏰ 12 noon
📍The Virago, Fool's Paradise, Entertainment Quarter
🎟️ Ticket link in bio

Too old for the circus? Hazel Palmer is proving there’s no such thing At 54, Hazel Palmer took up circus training for the first time. Now she performs aerial straps with Sydney's 50-Up Circus, proving it's never too late to run away with the circus.

Meet Delwyn!
Performing with 50-Up Sydney Fringe

Delwyn Bishop is 76 and began learning aerials at the remarkable age of 74. She performs on lyra and is also a tap dancer, training at Integral Aerial Arts and Sydney Trapeze School.

Delwyn made her 50-Up Circus debut at the 2025 Sydney Fringe Festival and is living proof that it is never too late to take on something adventurous.

📅 Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September
⏰ 12 noon
📍The Virago, Fool's Paradise, Entertainment Quarter
🎟️ Ticket link in bio
Or
https://sydneyfringe.com/events/50-up-the-rewind/

Ele Godley had 50-Up on 2SER this morning ( thanks 2SER 107.3 FM ).

We spoke about the mission of 50-Up to showcase the amazing things older be people are doing in circus and our not for profit activities.

All profits from Ticket sales to our Sydney Fringe show The Rewind, go to bringing circus joy and health benefits to people who might not be otherwise able to access. We do this I collaboration with Council on the Ageing NSW and Sydney Trapeze School

📅 Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September
⏰ 12 noon
📍The Virago, Fool's Paradise, Entertainment Quarter
🎟️ Ticket link in bio

Meet Alison on Hammock!
Performing with 50-Up Sydney Fringe

Alison is 56 and began aerial training at 49. She performs on trapeze and hammock and trains at Sydney Trapeze School. Alison brings style, character and a wonderful sense of theatricality to her performances.

In Alison’s words:
“My children had been very involved in circus at Sydney Trapeze School from a young age, and finally talked me into a static trapeze class in my late forties. Even though I relied on very patient instructors to haul me up in the early months, I knew that this was something I wanted to get better at. I love static and dance trapeze, and don't mind a bit of hammock for a change. My day job is an educational development academic at the School of Business at the University of Sydney.”

😀 Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September
🕛 12 noon
@ The Virago,

🎟Ticket link in bio

Sydney’s 50-Up Circus is challenging what ageing looks like. Onstage and in the community.

Behind The Rewind are co-producers Mary Wyer and Hazel D Palmer. But they’re producing more than a show. We want to build a bridge between the stage and the community: audiences see what’s possible, and workshops give them the opportunity to experience it themselves.

“The show makes older performers visible, but its impact shouldn’t stop at the theatre door. We want the joy, confidence and connection of circus to reach people who may never have imagined it was for them.” Mary Wyer

“Circus brings joy first, and that really matters. When people are laughing, learning and cheering one another on, they keep coming back. Underneath the fun, they’re also challenging their balance, coordination and confidence, and the assumptions placed on older bodies.” Hazel Palmer

As a volunteer-led not-for-profit, 50-Up Circus reinvests proceeds from its shows into community activities. This helps us create workshops, partnerships and opportunities for more older adults to experience circus for themselves.

Every ticket helps us take circus beyond the stage.

See the show. Support the mission.

🎪 50-Up Circus: The Rewind
📅 19–20 September
📍 The Virago, Fool’s Paradise
🎟 Book via the link in our bio
Or
https://sydneyfringe.com/events/50-up-the-rewind/

If you believe older people deserve opportunities to be visible, adventurous and fully themselves, please share this post.

Our work extends far beyond the stage.

50-Up Circus is a volunteer-led, registered not-for-profit creating opportunities for older
adults to experience the joy, connection and possibility of circus.

Through introductory workshops Sydney Trapeze School , community partnerships and performances, including our appearance at the Council on the Ageing New South Wales AGM and collaborating with Bah-Hah Circus for NSW Seniors Festival, we bring circus to people who may never have imagined it was
for them.

For some, that means trying a circus skill for the first time. For others, it means finding confidence, connection and a welcoming community. And for those watching, it offers a different and more expansive picture of ageing, one in which older adults remain strong, creative, adventurous and fully visible.

Because circus is not only about what we can achieve ourselves. It is also about the joy
we create together and share with others.

The profits from our stage performances are used to help bring circus workshops to a
wider community.

Curious about trying circus, partnering with us or bringing 50-Up Circus to your
community? Send us a DM or visit 50upcircus.org

Photos: .photos


COTANSW NotForProfit