FRANCA Stadler always knew she was destined to run away with the circus.

What she didn’t plan on was the delay.

The Sunshine resident was 35 when she joined Footscray’s Women’s Circus 15 years ago.

As a child in Switzerland, Franca was fascinated by the Royal Circus, which visited her town every year.

“They used to arrive in the middle of the night and I remember I would run to the window so see them come with all their exotic animals and equipment,” Franca recalled.

“I was completely in awe of it all and when I think about it, it makes sense I ended up in a circus, because it’s where I always wanted to be.”

Now 50, Franca has spent more than a decade perfecting her circus tricks, including spinning, tumbling and trapeze acts.

What started as a unique hobby, soon became a career, as Franca began training other women in the circus arts.

She now works as a rigger for the women’s troupe, creating intricate settings for the group’s performances.

“I’ve become more confident in what I do, but it was quite scary in the beginning,” Franca said.

“It wouldn’t take much for someone to seriously injure themselves and that’s a lot of responsibility to carry.

“I spend two or three hours before each show checking all the rigging is in order.”

Franca is one of more than 100 women who will take part in the Women’s Circus’s annual show, which opens next month at the North Melbourne Meat Market.