Flying Fruit Fly Circus members thrilled to be returning to arena after COVID impacts

The South Albury troupe is readying to star in Back in the Big Top Again! which runs from December 9 to 18 at Noreuil Park Oval as part of the Borderville arts festival.

Former Fruitie Ben Lewis is directing the production which includes 71 cast members aged from eight to 18.

"We've spent all year training and this year there's been more training than shows," he said referencing COVID fallout.

Circus chief executive Richard Hull said it had been a "terrible two years" and Borderville was a chance to lift spirits.

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"I think this is a party that the community needs and we're ready and we want to invite everybody to come and let their hair down and have a great time finally," he said.

The federal government has provided $145,000 in COVID recovery funding to assist with production costs and the NSW government $150,000 to cover big top expenses.

Member for Farrer Sussan Ley saw rehearsals at the Fruit Flies' base on Friday morning.

"I've made sure that every single arts minister knows the Fruit Flies, knows where they are, knows who they are and knows how important they are," she said.

"Paul Fletcher, the current minister, is no exception.

"I've had conversations with him about exactly the funding that has been provided today."

As well as the Fruities' show, a physical comedy production Tale of Two Harpies will be staged at the HotHouse Theatre on December 10-11 as part of Borderville.

After being cancelled in the last two Septembers because of COVID kerbs, the circus' work Girls With Altitude has been slated for February 24-26 at The Cube in Wodonga.

It is then set to travel as far as Rockhampton and Alice Springs in the following two months.

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