Wonderland Carnivale

Somewhere between an ice-skating rink, a subscription-based supermarket and a scarcely-used Ferris wheel lies Wonderland Spiegeltent, a bohemian circus of cabaret and comedy as eclectic as its surroundings. Not to be confused with Federation Square's Famous Spiegeletent, this tent will play host to Wonderland Carnivale and will feature a variety acts including US comedian Ian Bagg, radio funnyman Lehmo and the brassy Bev Killick. Together with circus acts, the 90-minute show is hosted by Miss Behave, a jet-setting performer who holds the Guinness world record for swallowing swords.

Miss Behave, aka Amy Saunders, first made the connection to comedy through street performing and theatre. “Starting off as a sword swallower meant that the general audience reaction was one of fear or revulsion,” she admits, “but I loved watching the people who made me laugh and began to seek out that reaction. I have made my freaky tricks entertaining instead of scary. They are almost incidental to both character and time spent with the audience. I made a point of working in every possible genre to give myself the flexibility to adapt for any audience or situation. What I have learnt is that doing what I do, I am always slightly inappropriate wherever I go. But that isn't a bad thing,” she laughs.

What makes Saunders' sword-swallowing act even more dangerous is the fact she's self-taught. Naturally, she's encountered the odd mishap. “Early in my career I was performing with the Royal Opera Company in the UK and, unbeknownst to me, I cut myself internally – I was bleeding but unaware. The next morning I was whiter than snow and went to hospital; I learnt that I'd lost over half my blood and if it hadn't stopped bleeding of its own accord I'd have died. Does that make me head strong, or an idiot? I suspect idiot.”

If life threatening acts weren't enough to win over audiences, there's more. “I'll be hosting a show with a mixture of stand-up and circus, so laughs and spectacle will feature. What you'll get from me is mischief, naughtiness, scary stunts, gut laughs and surprises.”