50-Up Circus at Sydney Fringe 2026

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50-Up Circus is BACK at Sydney Fringe!

WHAT THE FUNK!
We're thrilled to announce we're returning to Fool's Paradise at the Entertainment Quarter for Sydney Fringe 2026!

This year we're bringing 50-Up: The Rewind - a bold new "Countdown" inspired show where disco, punk, glam rock and gravity-defying circus collide, celebrating the genre-hopping chaos of the 1970s with aerials, acrobatics and just enough nostalgia to make Molly Meldrum proud.

Watch our incredible over-50s performers defy expectations and prove that circus has no age limit - strength, skill, and spectacle from a troupe that's rewriting what ageing looks like.

Come be inspired, come be amazed, come cheer us on.

Meet the cast

Hazel Palmer began aerial training at 53 and, now 57, specialises in aerial straps. Her acts are a powerful display and rewrite expectations of what strength and control can look like later in life. She trains at Integral Aerial Arts and Sydney Trapeze School. Hazel is a co-director/producer of the 50-Up Circus shows, and as a committee member with a focus on research and communications, she develops projects exploring how circus participation can support confidence, wellbeing, connection and healthy ageing.

Mary Wyer is 62 and began aerial training at 55. She performs on trapeze and lyra and trains at Sydney Trapeze School. Mary originally conceived 50-Up Circus and has been instrumental in building it into a community that challenges stereotypes about ageing through creativity, connection and circus. Mary is the director of 50-Up Circus Inc. and a co-director/producer of The Rewind.

Born 1951 in the UK, Robin grew-up in a small town in the Oxfordshire countryside. He has studied physical theatre with Lindsay Kemp, the renowned mime, director, performance teacher of, and collaborator with David Bowie, Kate Bush and Steven Berkoff. He has performed globally as part of The Lindsay Kemp Theatre Company (New York, Toronto, London, Rotterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Belgrade, Zagreb, Caracas). He switched the stage for a paint brush in 1994. Since then, Robin has specialised in murals and other site-specific artworks. Through working in schools, he has also developed unique ways of including many individual creators (up to 300+ so far), collaborating on single permanent large-scale exterior artworks that he composes and brings to fruition. Once a performer, always a performer … Robin can frequently be seen, and heard, busking, singing and brining his unique style of creative joy to Blackheath.

Anita_arwen_lina (1) — Anita, Lina and Arwen are skilled across a number of circus apparatus - but at the The Rewind, they will showcase some of the skills you can learn on the ground at in 50-Up classes.

Belinda Parkes is 53 and began learning aerials at the age of 45. A silks specialist who trains at Integral Aerial Arts in Brookvale, Belinda has previously delighted 50-Up Circus audiences with performances full of magic, playfulness and mid-air marvels. — Belinda Parkes is 52 and began learning aerials at the age of 45. A silks specialist who trains at Integral Aerial Arts in Brookvale, Belinda has previously delighted 50-Up Circus audiences with performances full of magic, playfulness and mid-air marvels.

Trish Ferguson is 53 and began aerial training at 49. She specialises in trapeze and trains at Sydney Trapeze School. A bold and expressive performer, Trish has previously shared the stage with her close friend Mary, combining strong aerial skills with humour and plenty of heart.

Alison new — Alison Casey 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.

Wayne Barker is a juggler who began juggling for fun at the age of 25. He made his 50-Up Circus debut at the 2025 Sydney Fringe Festival, bringing zany, energetic and joyfully chaotic fun to the stage.

Delwyn new — 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.

John Stanton 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

Jacqui new — Jacqui Matthews is 58 and performs on trapeze, hammock and lyra. She trains across Sydney Trapeze School, The Movement Academy and Aerialize and has been learning aerials since the age of 48. Jacqui is also a member of the 50-Up Circus management committee and brings both elegance and a strong theatrical presence to the stage.

Gayleen is 67, has a background in dance and took up flying trapeze at age 44. She’s tried her hand at all things circus since then (static trapeze, Lyra, silks, cloud swing, Spanish web to name a few). Basically, she just likes hanging upside down and expressing herself through movement. She’s mainly trained at Circus Arts and Sydney Trapeze School. Gayleen performs a doubles trapeze act at The Rewind, with Alex Mannering - co-owner of Sydney Trapeze School and an all round superstar. Alex is also in charge of rigging for the show. There is no one quite like Alex!

Miklos&Judit — Not quite yet 50 (but getting close), Judit and Miklos have come on board to showcase some skills they only recently learned in partner acro classes, as part of our opening act. We love their playful chemistry and the genuine joy they bring to their work together