Latest Melbourne News

Circus Oz announced its intention to “raise the roof” and “raise the bar” in 2008. As the internationally renowned contemporary circus troupe commences celebrations for its 30th birthday, it also announced a number of initiatives, which will enhance the company’s role as leader in the future development of Australian professional circus arts.

In 1978, the very first Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras ended in mass arrests on Oxford Street, the Hilton bombing sent shockwaves around the country, and the Bee Gees had a global number one hit with Stayin’Alive. From this extraordinary cultural climate where political upheaval collided with disco balls, Circus Oz was born. Thirty years later the company is still “stayin’ alive” and is still very much a quintessential part of Australian cultural life.

The founding members of Circus Oz loved the skills and tricks of traditional circus but wanted to make a new sort of show that a contemporary audience could relate to, adding elements of rock’n’roll, popular theatre and satire. They sewed and welded together their own circus tent, got together a collection of old trucks and caravans and went on the road. Promoting the principles of equality and team work, Circus Oz was a fresh and original voice in circus and the company was immediately popular with Australian audiences.

At a celebratory lunch last week at Circus Oz’s Port Melbourne studio, artistic director Mike Finch unveiled a year-long program to celebrate its 30th birthday.

Mike Finch said, “Circus Oz has always been a trail-blazer, and was a major player in the growth of non-animal contemporary circus around the world. Having always stuck to our irreverent, trouble-making style, our survival is definitely something to be celebrated in this day and age. We invite everyone who loves Circus Oz to join the party as we raise our big top and raise the roof across the globe this year to celebrate our 30th birthday.”

From March, Circus Oz will embark on an extensive regional tour of Queensland and New South Wales. Between its busy performance schedule, the company will continue its important skills development workshops with remote indigenous communities and other youth programs. This important work rewards the individual members of Circus Oz just as much as the communities they visit. Circus Oz believes strongly in tolerance, diversity and human kindness. Promoting social justice and a good time for all, the company has worked with many charities over the years, engaged with indigenous communities and raised donations to support refugees and asylum seekers.

In June, the troupe will return to its hometown for a four week season at Melbourne’s Birrarung Marr to officially celebrate its 30th birthday from June 18 to July 13.

Without a moment’s rest, Circus Oz will then pack its bags again to embark on an extensive six month European tour with stops including London, Madrid, Barcelona and Milan.

“Our successful international touring has been one of the great unsung success stories of Circus Oz,” Mike Finch said. “Most Australians would not realise that we regularly act as Aussie cultural ambassadors, with successful seasons from New York to the Brazilian rainforest. In December last year, the San Francisco Chronicle described us as ‘undeniably in your face, refreshingly progressive, unapologetically off-color and gleefully Australian’.”

Circus Oz Chair Wendy McCarthy said at the launch, “For Circus Oz to seriously continue its role as Australia’s leader in professional circus arts, we need to ask what our country’s greatest circus artists need, to be the best they can possibly be. The answer is time and space.”

“From this year we are giving them time with the introduction of an exciting new skills development program, and we are giving them the space with the quest for a spectacular new permanent home for the company.”

A recent increase in Australia Council and Arts Victoria funding will allow Circus Oz to introduce an annual 8 week intensive rehearsal period to develop and rehearse exciting new acts each year, while the rest of troupe is out on tour. To be known as The Lab, this initiative will ensure a regular injection of new skills and acts into future shows.

“Our current studio in Port Melbourne no longer fufills the needs of an internationally renowned, contemporary circus company,” Ms McCarthy said. “We need a fully-equipped, full size rehearsal studio to develop the level of performance skills and innovation we are striving for. We need a home where audiences can experience work in progress, with professional administration facilities. However, to make this dream a reality, we are going to need to do more than raise the roof and raise the bar once we find a site. We are going to need to raise funds, and you can expect some exciting announcements on that front in the very near future.”

Tickets for Circus Oz’s ‘30th Birthday Bash’ Melbourne season in June and July are on sale now.

For more information, visit www.circusoz.com