I'm off to join the Circus....

I'm not sure how many times I have seen Circus Oz perform, I think I have seen possibly 10 of their shows and I think between Griffith, Sydney and Melbourne maybe doubled up on one of two of those as well. I didn't get to see the first season 35 years ago, but I do know a local couple who did and they are also still returning to see what this remarkable company of performers and story tellers have to tell and show us. 

Circus Oz is a circus with difference, it's only animal performers are human, and these are well trained, like able, and talented ones at that.  This team of talented artists work as a team, and seamlessly unfold the story behind the performance. This is as it has always been, Circus Oz has a reputation for daring, controversial and contemporary commentary on our world, the issues which loom large and sometimes those we are afraid to mention. 

"Model Citizens" the show currently touring is a commentary on Australian society today, on our day to day normality, how our politicians 

talk of equality, fairness and justice and yet rarely do as they say.  Our addiction to plastic cards and their power to manifest money from no where or so it seems, or as the second act so clearly put to the audience, our preparedness to be tolerant of others and their ideas, and customs, as long as it isn't in our back yards.  Model Citizens its appears are more like sheep. 

The mob on stage, and behind, delivered an impeccable performance that generated gasps, oohs and ahhs in all the right places, made us laugh ( I think at ourselves) and amazed us with skills that come from not only talent, but also strength, a willingness to push your skill set in new directions and to take chances. The onstage team were supported by a live band who were able to create a sound scape that continually moved and adapted to the performers, and the story itself. 

For a number of the performers. Model Citizens, is their first Circus Oz gig. Luke, Freyja, Lachlan, Jessica, Rose, Jake, Jarred, Jeremy, Steph, have joined the team this year.  Mitch and Olivia being seasoned artists. Not that any of this really matters, because it looked like this crew had been around each other for a long while, and each able to support, anticipate  and be in sync with each other.  Circus Oz is never about one star, but a stage full of stars, but they only shine if all perform to their best, and this crew shone like an outback sky on moonless night.  

Circus Oz predates other circus's that rely on human skill and performance to entertain, and have a story that is woven through the performance, but unlike Cirque Du Soleil, it has retained the qualities that allow it to be nimble enough to tour across the country, and perform in theatres and yet in the big cities like Melbourne and Sydney still appear under a big top. Its performers build a rapport with the audience from the very start and also weave into the performances local places and identities.  Its set is not lavish by any standard, but it works, the lighting is used in many ways like another performer, adding to each set of the show.  

Its a show that is about acrobats who juggle, flip, tumble, fall, climb, spin, dangle, and hula hoop through 2 hours of mayhem, and at the same time keep an audience entranced, laughing, holding their breath and most of all having a rollicking night out.  My only word of caution, and this comes from young Kate who was sitting beside me. who was very concerned about the fire eating "its not very healthy to eat fire because its got no good foods in it." 

Thank you Circus Oz for continuing to deliver outstanding performances and for continuing to speak up in the special way you do and have done for 35 years. Can I also share some of the statistics behind this crew, gleaned from the 2016 Annual Report.  

Community Skills Workshops - 444 held across the country, with over 12,700 participants able to participate in Circus Arts. That includes 4,800 kids involved in  the Super Hero Academy.

Term and Holiday Classes - 1371 students involved in 146 different Circus Skill programs. 

Team Development program for businesses and organisations was taken up by 17 groups. 

Plus two special free Outdoor events that saw them perform to over 10,000 people.

But Wait there is More - was performed to to over 15,000 in spite of being nearly drowned in in last years big wet in Sydney. 

Twentysixteen was performed 74 times and had an audience of over 46,000

Of course thats not the whole story,  there is much more, but you an read the report yourself. But what it tells me is that Circus Oz continues to deliver on what it first intended to do when those dreamers created it 35 years ago, to delight itself into the hearts and minds of Australians as the National Circus, and to continue to promote its Social Justice agenda. Bravo.