Roll right up! I RAN AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS

Marie Weber reveals what it’s like bringing up eight kids on the road

- Rebekah Hebenton

For many people, the idea of exposing their lives on a reality TV show would be a nerve-wracking prospect. But for Marie Weber, whose family are the stars of the local Bravo reality series The Circus, it was a unique opportunity to show the world what running away with the circus is really like.

“People know us because we’ve been travelling around New Zealand and the world for a long time,” says Marie, 43, who runs the Weber Bros Circus with her husband Harry. “There’s always that mystery about what happens behind the scenes. The show gives people some insight into the hard work that goes into touring a permanent travelling circus.”

The second season of the family’s hit show is Marie’s favourite so far as they filmed it in beautiful Queenstown and, more importantly, it features the engagement of her eldest daughter Kiarnna, 22, to her longtime boyfriend Ivan Souza, 30.

The loved-up pair, who have been together for six years, met when Ivan joined the Weber Bros Circus in 2012, but it took a few years for romance to blossom. Now, Ivan is part of the family and has Marie’s seal of approval.

“My heart is super happy and Ivan is definitely the right boy for her,” she enthuses.

But Marie admits her motherly worries kicked in when she first found out about the relationship.