By ALESHA CAPONE
DEER Park resident Cameron Tougher always dreamed of a career on stage but never thought he would join the circus.
However the 24-year-old ringmaster has been recruited to present a spectacular show in front of up to 400 people every night, under the lights at Circus Latino.
The circus will be playing in Werribee until 27 January.
Before he became ringmaster, Mr Tougher was volunteering in community theatre and working two jobs including one at the 234 Fun Galore indoor entertainment centre in Braybrook.
Around two months ago, Circus Latino performers visited the centre and started chatting to Mr Tougher, who told them about his favourite past-times – including fire-twirling, clowning and announcing.
The performers invited Mr Tougher see to their show in Burnside, where their tricks and stunts left him “in awe”.
He was later invited backstage and asked to audition his announcing skills in front of the circus owner another day.
“He asked me if I wanted to do a show and I was expecting to be the next day or evening,” Mr Tougher said.
“Then I found out I was going to be live on stage in the next half an hour.”
Mr Tougher ended up doing shows across that weekend, announcing acts from backstage.
One night, circus members urged him to go out on stage – despite some pre-performance nerves.
“I ran offstage and they said, ‘How was it?’” Mr Tougher recalls.
“I said I want to do it again.”
Since then, he has been the official Circus Latino ringmaster .
“I’ve kind-of literally run away with the circus,” Mr Tougher said.
“To be honest with you, my favourite part is the rush of being onstage in front of a crowd and making sure everything’s running right and on time.”
His advice for aspiring circus performers is to follow their dreams and ignore the naysayers.
“I followed my dream of being onstage and now look where I am,” he said.
“I’m in the circus and absolutely loving it.”
Circus Latino will be at Werribee Plaza in the Heaths Rd car park on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30pm, Friday and Saturday at 7.30 pm and 11am and Sunday and Monday 11am. Tickets: www.circuslatino.com.au
