Gilitrutt Brothers Carnival

The Gilitrutt Brothers Carnival has been a feature in Northern NSW for as long as anyone can remember, travelling from Armidale, to Glen Innes, to Grafton, to Port Macquarie, to Tamworth with their acts, attractions and managerie. Much loved by the public, this relic of the 1940's has survived to this day by rewarding fans and newcomers with sights and sounds oft not seen these days.

Listen to the Gilitrutt Carnival Radio Ad.

Acts

Acts come and go as with any travelling carnival, but several have reamianed steadfast and others return periodically for repeat tours. Following as a permananet part of the Gilitrutt Brothers Carnival are a troupe of clowns whose make-up makes them look alike, and death-defying acrobatic artists, jugglers, beastmaster and flame breathers.

Acrobats, Hermann & Lottee Chevet

Hermann and Lottee romance the audience demonstrating the passion and trust they hold for each other by flying through the air on the trapeze, dancing suspended by silk and balanced on the tightrope. Originating in Vienna, the pair came to the Gilitrutt Carnival 15 years ago,and have remained ever since. They married each other and the Carnival at the turn of the millenium,and have solidified their placeas much loved performers of ariel romance!

Beastmaster, Rory Silver

Rory joined the Gilitrutt Carnival reasonably recently in 2013, but already had a background with animals through the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, and several years of training experience with the Police Dog Squad. He established an affinity immediately with the tigers, Rajah and Amburgh, and began to encourage Kanokwan the Elephan to new and interesting acts. His command of all of the Carnival's Menagerie is impressive and should be seen by everyone!

Clowns, Kwazy Klones

Seven identical mutes sounds complicated, but the Kwazy Klones add confusion, misdirection and slapstick to their mirror image make up and clothing for hilarity and fun for all. They have been with the Carnival for as long as the Gilitrutt Brothers have been touring. Often seen wandering the Carnival between shows, they play pranks on patrons by making it seem like they are everywhere at once, or innocent of gaffes. They take the performance outside into the big-top for your amusement between performances too!

Daredevils, Joe & Zoe Flambeau

Joeseph and Zoe Flambeau are brother and sister pyrotechnic and pyrobiologic daredevils - breathing, swallowing, immersing, juggling - if it's fire they do it. Their show generates more than just heat from combustion, as both are fine physical specimens of sexual allure and grace that has tantalised audiences since they came from France in 2004, and after a number of tours with other companies, joined the Gilitrutt Carnival in 2011 and have surprized us that the tent has not burnt down ever since!

Equilibrists, Margaret & Elaine

Combining amazing gymnastic displays with juggling and balancing, Margaret and Elaine will make you think they can defy gravity itself with their mastery of objects and themselves. Starting in Circus Oz from Melbourne, Elaine invited long term friend and fellow equalisibrist Margaret from Stardust Circus to join her in a new act and an new company with the Gilitrutt Brothers in 2011. Watch them as they jugle all manner of breakable things whilst contoring and balancing in a show for all ages!

Voltige, Ryan Sloane, Liam Butler & Rhiannon Worth with Ducrow & George

Ryan, Liam and Rhiannon perform acrobatic master-feats whilst perched precariously on or between show horses Ducrow and George. See them form a pyramid or three-person tower whilst George and Ducrow race around the ring. See them leap over, accross, through and around each other and their horses as they weave through a slalom course or show-jump. This three person two equine team came to the Gilitrutt Carnival in 2009 and have thrilled audiences ever since!

Dressage, Kate Bell with Astley & and Nikki Chislom with Clever Hands

The highest expression of horse training and rider finnesse is personified in the ring as Kate and Nicola direct Astly and Clever Hands into a delicate dance of precise movements and syncronicity that will dazzle even the most dour of audiences with this equestrian ballet. Both human and horse teams come from a history of competition performances and joined together for the Gilitrtt Show to combine both their skills into a single intricate dance!

Attractions

As with any Carnival, the Gilitrutt Brothers don't just travel with things to keep you entertained in the big-top, there are allmanner of rides and other attractions to go and see while you are visiting.

Cavern of the Strange

See the preserved corpse of a real life crashed alien body, snatched from the claws of the federal cover-up and on display so the truth is out there! See the mermaid girl, captured from deep off the coast of Coffs Harbour past the marine reserve, and be amazed by her native costume and culture's tools on display as well! Come poke the werewolf boy - but keep your distance as what looks like a meek young man is really a terifying beast in disguise - and will rage if provoked till exhaustion takes him. These three and more beside await you in the Cavern of the Strange!

Ferris-wheel

The Gilitrutt Brothers have one of the largest de-mountable mobile Ferris Wheels specially constructed and erected at every carnival, this monstrocity stands nearly 90 metres high with 25 dual person gondalas when assembled - and each of our sites are chosen to offer the best views of the city in which we have set-up in. Other than leting everyone know that the Carnival is in town by the lights slayed over the wheel that can be seen from afar, it is a spectacular ride allowing everyone to see their town from the heights!

Dodgem Cars

Race your friends at break-neck pace and slam into them to jolt them out of your way or into opponents in this fun electric racing rink game with accellerator, semi-reliable steering, and no brakes! For extra fun try it without wheels with our hover-craft bumper cars and glide gracefully into the envitable crash and chaos on the circuit!

Fun-house Maze

A self paced, sensory experience where you will navigate your way through nearly 400 square metres of tunnels, mazes and fun. Interactive games, informative narration, balance, skill and a good sense of direction will help you find your way out!

Ghost Train

Do you dare get in the cart and brave the terrors in the dark with the Gilitrutt Ghost Train? Experience the thrills of the unexpected and the scary things that can be found inside while you plummet uncontrolled through this course of the macabre horrific. Best have a change of pants for the spooky surprises inside, and take a friend with you to hold for support!

Hall of Mirrors

Loose yourself in amoungst images of yourself and the others around you! Who is real and who is just a reflection? Is your friend really 4 meters tall? Make your elder sibling a midget, or your parents outrageously fat! The most fun you can have with reflections with your pants on!

Hurricane

Jump in a pod and be elevated as the ride begins to spin and twist thou through the wild ride of the hurricane! Experience 4 Gees at over 100km/h as you whirl unpredictably around a cyclone course while hoised in the air and whizing a hair's-breath past your counterparts in other pods!

Menagerie

The Gilitrutt Carnival has a variety of performing animals involved in all their shows as well as a petting zoo of the more cute and cuddly animals for the kids, and other exotic, but tame creatures for rises around the showgrounds.

Performing Animals

• Elephant, Stampie
• Elephant, Kanokwan
• Tiger, Rajah
• Tiger, Amburgh
• Horse, Astley
• Horse, Clever Hands
• Horse, Ducrow
• Horse, George

Petting Zoo

• Alpacas
• Ducklings
• Ginea Pigs
• Koalas
• Rabbits
• Ponies
• Pigs
• Lambs
• Wallabies

Animal Rides

• Camel, Ghan.
• Bear, Hannah.
• Pony, Jenny.
• Ostridge, Olivia.

Schedule

• 28th Apr - 4th May: Armidale
• 5th May - 11th May: Glen Innes
• 12th May - 18th May: Grafton
• 19th May - 25th May: Port Mac
• 26th May - 1st Jun: Tamworth

Media

Radio Ad Coming soon.

Rumours

• Have been cited for violating minimal standards of the Animal Welfare Act.
• The last Beastmaster was attacked and killed by one of the Tigers they still have today.
• Lottee and Hermann always keep their hands and feet covered - even when performing.
• If you find the right ride and attendant, you can be whisked away into another realm, for a price.
• The Werewolf boy seems a little too real.
• The Alien corpse is a cow fetus.