From balancing on his father’s head at just three years old to performing daring stunts like the Wheel of Death, life in the circus has always been more than just a performance for Thomas, it’s been a way of life. Together with his wife Collette, who designs their dazzling costumes and first joined the circus as a teenager, the couple has spent decades thrilling audiences and living on the road. Their story is one of tradition, resilience, and the magic of family life under the big top.
Today, the couple tours with Circus Fantasia, sharing the stage with performers from around the world and passing their love for the circus down to the next generation.
We caught up with Thomas to find out more about his incredible life on the road — from his earliest performances to the unique joys and challenges of circus life today…
Q1: How many generations back does your circus experience go?
A: Four generations. My grandmother was actually a ballet teacher who ran away and married the circus strongman. That’s how it all began.
Q2: Can you remember your first live performance?
A: Not really, to be honest. I was so young, probably about three. I know it was at the Grove Theatre in Belfast. I used to stand on my dad’s head while he stood on my stepmother’s shoulders and I’d play the mouth accordion. I can vaguely remember being on stage but not the beginning of the performance.
Q3: Can you share any standout special moments from your career?
A: One big moment was winning audience favourite at Cirque Educatif in Reims, France. Another was when a friend of ours won Best Dressed Act at a festival in Liège, Belgium, wearing a costume designed by Collette. She designs all our costumes, and for many others as well. Collette was very proud of that.
We’ve had many amazing experiences. We performed on a television show in Spain called “Noche de la Pirámide”, did a TV show in Lisbon at the Coliseu dos Recreios (a beautiful venue that holds 14,000 people), and even appeared on TV in Denmark, where a crew travelled with us in a camper van. We’ve been on Midsomer Murders, Crackerjack, The Late Late Breakfast Show with Noel Edmonds, and GMTV dancing with Mr. Motivator at 7 a.m. (I wasn’t even awake!).
One memorable appearance was on Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush with Chris Evans. We tied him to one end of the Wheel of Death (a large rotating structure used in circus performances), and I spun the wheel. He said it was an amazing experience!
Q4: How would you describe circus life?
A: For me, it’s not a lifestyle choice. It is my lifestyle because I was born into it. But for Collette, it was a choice. She joined when she was 17, taking a gap year before university, where she was studying theatre.
I always say how lucky I am to be born into this business. It’s so unusual, and you meet people from so many cultures. For example, we went punting in Cambridge this morning with the clowns, a cannon man, Anya (the boss’s wife), her sister, and kids from all over. At one point, the punter guiding us said, “There are so many languages going on here!” We were speaking in Swiss German, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Colombian all at once.
Circus Fantasia brings together people from so many different countries and always presents a new programme each year. That’s what makes it so interesting.
Q5: What kind of preparation goes into each show?
A: A lot, to be honest. Even if you’re in the ring for just 10 minutes, there’s much more going on behind the scenes. We have around 18 different costume changes. There’s preparation for each scene: the opening, the picnic, the globe act, the finale… Right now, for example, I’ve got to get ready for the show, and it takes hours just for costumes alone.
Q6: Have there been any scary moments?
Q6: Have there been any scary moments?A: Yes, definitely. Once, while performing with Circus Valerie Legacy, Collette was hit on the head by the Wheel of Death. She had a serious head injury. It was a very serious moment.
Q7: What’s the most exciting part of your job?
A: Performing in the ring is living – the rest is waiting. Even when the audience is small, if there’s one family or even just one person enjoying the show, it makes it all worthwhile. After COVID, to see people smiling again is everything.
Also, the travelling is a huge plus. Seeing beautiful towns like Cambridge and Bakewell, exploring new cultures and places – it’s an amazing experience.
Q8: Do you miss anything while on the road?
A: Not really. We bring everything with us. We live in a two-bedroom American caravan with slide-outs, so we have all the comforts of home. Our youngest son has his own bedroom, and our older son Peter has his own caravan.
Q9: What’s it like working together as a family?
A: It’s actually wonderful. At the end of shows, people come out and ask, “Are you really a family?” And when we say yes, their faces light up. One lady once said, “That’s where I’m going wrong!” – and that said a lot without needing to explain further.
It’s good to hear feedback and helps the show owners understand how much people appreciate what we do.
Q10: Would you encourage the next generation to continue the tradition?
A: Absolutely. There are so many paths – from variety to pantomime, TV, theatre, and adverts. It’s a life filled with opportunities.
Q11: What would you say to inspire someone to join the circus?
A: The circus is a close-knit community. Everyone looks after each other. And it’s not just entertaining – it brings nostalgia, wonder, and joy.
Sometimes you see couples in their 40s in the audience laughing and nudging each other, saying, “Could you imagine us doing that?” That’s the magic. Making people laugh and wonder, even for a moment – it’s a gift.
