The circus has always been a symbol of escape, from children being amazed, amused - and often bemused - by their first experience of a live show, to disgruntled rebels running away to join the circus. Which is what 16-year-old Xanthe Naylor did - she ran off to join Dunedin's annual Circulation Festival. Ten years later, she's the Festival Director, and she's bringing a new show to Otepoti. It's a unique blend of circus and cabaret called Star Dust. Lynn Freeman first asked Xanthe about her first steps into the circus arena. Dunedin's annual Circulation Festival runs in October. Meanwhile, director Xanthe Naylor is part of Star Dust which plays in the city from this Thursday at Te Whare o Rukutia.