After a successful tour of Upolu, the Magic Circus of Samoa is now on the big island and will commence their show on Thursday.

Ringmaster Tupa’i Bruno Loyale and his team are ecstatic to be in Savai'i, which is a place that he says holds a special place in his heart.

They have already set up their tents in the heart of the island’s business centre where the old market is located next to Samoa Stationery and Books (S.S.A.B.) outlet.

"First and foremost, we are very happy to be here (Savai'i)," Tupa'i told the Samoa Observer. "We've had a very successful tour all around Upolu and it was wonderful. 

"During that time, my Facebook was flooded with messages from people all around the island of Savai'i, asking if we're coming to Savai'i.

"Savai'i holds a special place in my heart, my history in Samoa goes back to the villages here, at Safua Lalomalava and all of my great friends all around the island.”

Tupa’i added that they’ve always had the support of everyone, every time they travelled to the big island for a performance.

"And of course, we always have great support every time we come here to Savai'i so we're happy to be here.

"It's been a long time. I don't remember the last time we were here, but it is always wonderful to be back in Savai'i.”

The circus will be based at Salelologa on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the show starting 7pm and tickets going on sale at the front door for children ($5) and adults ($10).

"We think we might extend our stay here in Savai'i, we're not sure,” says Tupa’i.

Their next stop after performing in Salelologa will be Sapapali'i, Faga and Fagamalo as well as Safotu.

"After then we will be going to Safotu, either pass through Safotu or somewhere around that area. We will try to go to Asau, Sagone and Gatavai before we conclude the Savai'i tour. We are trying our best to tour the whole island."

There are surprises in store for the audience, according to Tupa'i.

"People will be astounded. The lockdown has been very hard for everybody.”

And with businesses and the tourism sector in Savai’i feeling the pinch of the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic, Tupa’i says it was a blessing in disguise as it gave them more time to practice.

"But one thing the lockdown did for us is it gave us a lot more time to practice so we've trained some incredible acts, which people will be astounded with.

"I can't tell you but they're all so good: we have one Samoan girl, who does a triple flip in the air and lands on a chair. 

“That's just one of the amazing acts we have and we have a lot more for our people. 

"We have the first ever Samoan roller-skating act on a small table, and that's fantastic and a lot of magic.”

Tupa’i emphasised that he couldn’t reveal more on the sort of entertainment they have in store for the island’s residents.

"As a matter of fact, when you do come down to the circus, you're probably coming down to one of the only circuses that is probably open in the world right now, because everyone is closed. "So the places that don't have the coronavirus do not have a circus and Samoa has a circus and for the other countries that have circuses, they can't open because it's impossible.”

With circuses around the world closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tupa’i says his friends are envious of the fact that it is business as usual for Samoa’s only circus. 

"All of my friends in other countries like Argentina, Columbia, they said that we are very lucky because we are still working. 

“They are not open and they're having a hard time. But thank God we are in Samoa, and we thank God that we don't have the coronavirus here in our country.

"It looks like we're going to make it, I'm sure of that, we have a great Government. We welcome you all and look forward to seeing everyone."