AUSTRALIA’S oldest circus family will roll into Ipswich next month, bringing with it more than 175 years of entertainment history, a troupe of world-class performers, and the enduring spirit of life on the road.
For Chantel Ashton-Rodriquez, the ring isn’t just a stage – it’s her home.
A sixth-generation performer in the legendary Ashton circus dynasty, she now serves as managing director of Ashton Entertainment.
“In our family, from a really early age we were taken into the finale or the parade,” she said.
“We’d be carried in by Mum or Dad, sometimes on the back of a horse, dressed in our costumes. I even did bareback riding when I was about two.”
This September 12-21, Chantel is bringing Ashton’s Great Australian Circus to Ipswich Showgrounds, marking its first full year of touring since the pandemic.
Growing up with her grandparents’ Ashton Circus, Chantel’s “classroom” was a caravan converted into a schoolroom, complete with desks and a travelling teacher.
“We even had a gymnastics coach who came on the road with us. It was like a little village on wheels.”
Managing the operation now means wearing every hat at once: booking venues, selling tickets, designing costumes, training, performing, and marketing the show.
All this, while raising her almost-two-year-old son on the road.
The Ashton name carries more than 175 years of history, dating back to the gold rush era.
“It’s the oldest circus family in Australia, and we’re proud to keep it going,” Chantel said.
