Airdate: The Carnival

Episode 3 of Australia Uncovred is The Carnival which follows six-generation travelling show family The Bells as they journey across the country with their convoy of trucks and workers, battling not only to keep Australia’s oldest show on the road – but also to keep their family’s legacy alive.

Isabel Darling, Writer/Director said: “In late 2015, I ventured into the Bell family’s camp and was immediately struck by their unique lifestyle. Their existence is a subculture marked by ceaseless journeys across the country, skimming through various towns and cities, with the rare exception of a stay in Batemans Bay NSW for six weeks every Christmas. It was here that I first encountered the Bell family.

“Over the next seven years, I had the privilege of documenting this family’s traditional show life continuously. My children and I travelled the country, chasing after trucks and sharing campfires beneath the starry desert skies. I am overjoyed that audiences now have the opportunity to embark on the same adventure and gain insight into the real lives of the ‘showies.’”

The Bells have been touring Australia for over a hundred years. Six weeks is the longest they stay in one place. As the family face some of the toughest times they’ve ever seen, including unprecedented bushfires and a global health pandemic, they’re preparing to hand over the reins to the next generation, with the empire expected to be handed down to the next boy in line.

Filmed over seven years and a Walkley Documentary Award Finalist, The Carnival is a larger-than-life road trip that unveils not just the mystery surrounding traveling show-people, but also the struggles of a family grappling with adapting a traditional way of life to the modern world.

The Carnival is a Sideshow Films production for SBS. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with Shark Island Foundation. Financed with support from Screen NSW, Torchlight Media and JOTZ productions.

8:40pm Thursday 22 February on SBS.