Hard day at office for acrobats

By Yana Thandrayen
BBC Scotland news

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Teacher, accountant, acrobat

Bored of your desk job? Sick of the 9 to 5? Want more excitement in your life? How about becoming a circus performer in an Edinburgh fringe show?

Well, running away to join the circus is not an easy option - and some keep their day jobs as well.

The performers from Airealism must climb up long scarlet silks, dangle from the trapeze, and dance as if suspended in the air.

And they fit it all in around their day jobs.

They are teachers, accountants and IT specialists.

When one of the cast had to travel abroad for a week work she kept in shape by climbing up a tree.

So how do they manage it?

Juliette, a teacher and performer, said: "We work full-time. We train three times a week, sometimes up to seven. Rehearsals are, maybe, twice a week on top of that. But it is just doing something because we love it."

Running man

The performers of Sirqus Alfon from Sweden also have to train hard every day to remain in peak physical condition for their show of clowning, music and dance.

But frontman Banham 2000 said working in an office was never going to be an option for him.

He was always destined for life on the stage.

"For me I was dancing since I was a very little kid," he said.

"I was doing running man, breakdancing and spinning on my head. So I was always performing.

"It was natural but I had a good teacher who said you have to become better. I am a very good star now."

So if you have ever dreamed of quitting work and joining the circus or even doing it part-time a word of advice from Juliette.

"Do it. It is amazing. Flying is the best thing."