TWENTYSIXTEEN by Circus Oz
Thebarton Theatre, Torrensville
30-31 July
For the first time in ten years, Circus Oz has returned to Adelaide, this time with their new razzledazzle show TWENTYSIXTEEN.
The show has received standing ovations and rave reviews throughout its international (and national) tour to date, and after sitting with my jaw open for almost two hours, I can understand why.
From high swinging trapeze acts to mesmerising juggling skits and breathtaking spectacles of physical strength, the show is entertaining from start to finish.
The rag tag, colourful costumes, eccentric hairstyles and hilariously quirky gags were balanced with the particularly powerful quiet and thoughtful dramatic moments peppered throughout the show.
In addition to the breathtaking acrobatic feats, the performance is riddled with both witty and cheesy humour, appealing to the very broad audience present (including the prestigious likes of Senator Penny Wong and South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill on the closing evening).
The show is anchored by the ever so chirpy and flamboyant Dale Woodbridge-Brown, whose acrobatic skills are matched by his charisma and sharp comedic timing.
However, it is the women in particular who star in TWENTYSIXTEEN, as they challenge concepts of gender roles and limitations with various ‘strongwoman’ routines, leaving the audience in audible awe of the power and control of the human body.
There were drops, falls and a couple of tumbles throughout the evening but, to the credit of the performers, each botched attempt was followed by a successful demonstration of the choreography and dare I say it made it seem all the more impressive?! It certainly had audience members on the edge of their chairs, acutely aware that this was a live show where anything can happen and there are no gimmicky ‘safety net’ tricks behind the scenes falsely ensuring a flawless smooth run.
With all proceeds from the three Adelaide shows going directly to supporting the environmental conservation work of the Nature Foundation SA, it is hard not to feel like you’re achieving a double win with Circus Oz – an incredibly entertaining night out plus contributing to a very worthy cause!
For more information about their TWENTYSIXTEEN tour, visit the Circus Oz website.
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