Weber Bros Circus on in Whangarei tonight

FMX riders Leu Wellyan, left, and Jacques Human with silk dancers Kiarnna Weber, left, and Dakota Weber preparing for their first show in Whangarei tonight. Photo / John Stone

Daredevil motorcyclists and silk dancing rather than the caged lions and elephants that traditionally perform in a circus will feature during the adrenaline-pumping Weber Bros Circus in Whangarei.

The globetrotting circus has returned to Whangarei after an eight-year hiatus and will perform at the Cobham Oval carpark on Okara Dr from tonight until Sunday next week.

The forecast for heavy rain today would not stop the show from going ahead, organisers said.

The weather had slowed the set-up phase but company co-owner Marie Weber said her performers would be ready for a 7.30pm start.

"We've done shows in South Korea when it was snowing in temperatures of minus 15, in Australia in 40 degrees heat so we operate in all sorts of weather during the 48 weeks in the year we're travelling," she said.

The 50-member circus includes performers from Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France, South Africa, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

The "Splitting Globe of Death", where four motorcyclists ride at 80km/h inside an oval-shaped cage, is some of the entertainment during the two-hour long show.
There will also be the Human Cannon, where a performer is blown from inside a cannon to the other side of the stage.

"Weber Bros Circus has been coming to Northland since the '90s and a lot of people remember coming to the show when they were kids and they still do," Mrs Weber said.

The circus will move on to Kaitaia, where shows will be held from April 26 to 30, with the last stop at the Kerikeri Domain from May 1 to 7.

Tickets can be purchased at the show venue or online at www.iticket.co.nz.