Tamworth Show entertainment includes Wild West arena show

The Rooftop Express Wild West Arena Show, included in the gate price at Tamworth Show, will be performed in the city for the first time.

When The Leader checked out a rehearsal this morning, two steers ended up on the roof of a trailer, and a horse calmly lay on the ground while director Dave Manchon stood on him and cracked his whip overhead.

The show has been running and touring since 2012, but he said they were “super-excited about this one: first time at the Tamworth Show, new venue and celebrating 10 years of AELEC”. 

Read also:

“We’ve obviously got our horses, our dogs, our cattle… we’re a little bit nervous, because there’s a lot of good horsemen and cattle people in Tamworth. We’re hoping we can really turn it on and make people excited to be a part of the Tamworth show.”

Mr Manchon said people could expect to laugh and be awed as the cast showed “what’s possible with their animals”.

However, he said: “We don’t take life too seriously.”

“It’s a comedy show – we do say if you’ve got a broken rib, don’t bother coming,” he said.

“There’s lots of things there that are going to make mums and dads laugh, but also the kids as well – and hopefully even the most staunch-faced grazier’s going to have a bit of a giggle at this show.”

Mr Manchon said the show was constantly evolving as more animal and human talent was nurtured up to perform.

But the one quality everyone needed was “a lot of patience”.

“It’s not that we’re particularly talented, it’s just that we’re prepared to go out there and … train as much as we can in order to put animals together that can be part of this Wild West show,” he said.

“We chase the same thing in our staff and our animals: a good temperament, before anything else.

“We need people who’ve got a nice, smiling face, that are really patient with their animals.

“With our animals, we’re looking for that great temperament so we can take them to arenas like this and really show people what’s possible.”