Olivia is now 6 weeks postpartum and has stepped back into the ring
The circus has arrived back in Belfast, and it has a brand new member in tow. Ringmistress, Olivia Mulvaney, 26, gave birth to baby Luca just over 6 weeks ago.
Belfast Live caught up with her to find out how she is finding the balancing act of motherhood with an incredibly unique job.
Olivia’s family has been running circuses for almost 20 years. Her grandfather and brothers started a circus over two decades ago, and then they all split off and started their own circuses, and Circus Vegas officially began in 2004.
The main attractions at Circus Vegas are the motorbike stunt team, which includes their FMX riders and globe of death riders. They also have a brand-new clown, ‘Lupino’, who is a real crowd-pleaser. There are no animals at all used in this circus, and it focuses on thrills, stunts and laughter to keep everyone entertained.
A Ringmistress or Ringmaster would oversee the day-to-day running of the circus as well as the flow of the show to keep the audience engaged. On top of this, she will work with each act to ensure everything is safe and that the artists are happy to perform. She has the final say on whether an act can actually go on, so it carries a lot of responsibility.
Typically, in most portrayals, we see it as a Ringmaster, so it is quite rare to see a woman step into the role. However, Olivia said it is becoming much more common to see women in the job across Ireland.
Olivia enjoys the leadership aspect of the role and said that “it’s nice to see more women being involved in it”.
However, at 6 weeks postpartum, she has stepped back into the ring. It’s a “nice feeling coming back”, and she believes she is in a lucky position, being able to work with her baby by her side.
She added that it is “unusual to live and work with your whole family”, most of whom work in the circus in some capacity. But sees the benefits because she has her support system with her at all times, and they can help lighten the load even at work.
It goes beyond family, and everyone who works in the circus has come together to support her and baby Luca. Olivia also added that “without them, it would be difficult”.
“He’s been absolutely amazing”, says Olivia about how Luca has been doing, especially in the mix of a busy circus environment. She believes he got used to the loud noises during the pregnancy and even falls asleep to the sound of motorbikes, finding it soothing.
There’s more to the circus than the performances we see on stage, Olivia says. With an almost entirely new cast each year, it allows her to meet new people from all walks of life.
She said it also brings in new cultures and different personalities, and she’s even managed to learn a few words in other languages. One of her favourite parts of the job is being able to “socialise with people from all over the world”.
Circus Vegas has returned to Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast until April 12. Tickets are on sale now.
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