Owain Evans, 24, from Cwmbach near Whitland in Carmarthenshire, grew up on a dairy farm that has been in his family for generations. But instead of following the traditional path, he decided to run away to the circus—and he has no regrets.
From Dairy Farm to Big Top
Evans was raised on a farm with roughly 100 milking cows, where he started doing odd jobs at age 13, including milking cows, mending fences, and baling hay. After leaving school at 18 in 2019, he worked full-time on the farm, supporting his father.
In early 2025, his friend Iolo Petersen—who had joined a circus—invited Evans to help with construction and maintenance. By Christmas that year, Evans had traveled to Salzburg and Marseille to erect tents for another circus, then joined The Revel Puck Circus for their winter festival in Walthamstow.
Joining the Summer Tour
Evans formally signed up with The Revel Puck Circus for their summer tour, A Glimmer Daze Gambit, which began in March 2026. He works as part of the ring crew, handling backstage repairs, logistics, and moving props, as well as front-of-house service and performing.
He participates in the rolla bola act, balancing on a platform atop a giant ball, and dance routines. After his debut, he described it as “chaotic” but “a lot of fun.”
Life on the Road
A typical day involves selling drinks and popcorn, then changing into a costume of baggy yellow chinos and a blue short-sleeved top. He helps set up props like mats, balls, a ratchet for a cradle duo act, and the fire arch.
Evans told PA Real Life: “I love travelling around. I've been to London quite a few times and Cambridge was lovely, we did some nice swimming in the river and the big Lido there. Whitstable by the sea was great and the coolest place was probably the Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth where we put the show there on this big stage. I've been to towns that I'd never have gone to... so that's a big factor for me.”
Parallels Between Farm and Circus
Evans noted surprising similarities between farm life and the circus: “hard work,” long hours, living on-site, and working outdoors. On the farm, he would wake at 6am, milk cows for two hours, feed calves, then do repairs before a second milking at 4pm.
He said: “It's quite good how the circus season and farming overlaps because I can do a summer tour and then go home for the hardest part of the farming year, which is in winter.”
Encouraging Others
When the tour ends in September, Evans plans to return to help his father with milking, hoping to alternate between both worlds. He encourages others from small communities to explore: “If you want, just go and experience something different. When you're young, it's something you should try and do, because how else are you going to know?”
