Ephemeral and magical, circuses have thrilled children for generations, relying on the novelty of their pop-up format to attract crowds. But what about the children behind the scenes? This intimate documentary clip from 1977 follows a crew of circus children on the road, and their long hours travelling between destinations.

The documentary, focused on Swiss Circus Royale as it tours Australia, looks at the training and lives of the circus children. Many of them have European circus backgrounds dating back several generations and voice the importance of family tradition. This intimate footage is marked by its day-in-the-life tone, in which viewers are strongly rooted in the children's perspectives.

Like most kids, they are playful and restless, engaged in a game of 'I Spy' to while away the hours on tour. But glimpses into their fluid climbing skills and their sporadic remote learning is contrasted with schoolchildren queuing outside the tent to see the show, waiting to be dazzled. These dreamy textures build into a portrait of an exceptional childhood.