Sydney Reviews

Photo – Alex Wisser

Jump First, Ask Later: Parkour from the Streets of Fairfield is a high energy, physically inspiring showcase of impressive strength and agility. The performance combines street culture, parkour, breakdancing, gymnastics, kinaesthetics and martial arts. All of which are dynamic and bring you to the edge of your seat.

Watching the crew moving around the stage you get a real sense of how their streetview differs from that of the average Joe. They do talk about this sense of perspective. We see a wall – they see a challenge. They interact with their environment; they talk to it using their chosen form of movement. They bring their history to scaffolding and their language to a handrail. In this performance you get to watch the dialog and to enjoy the discourse between a street culture and its surroundings. 

But the flair and sparks that are created by these amazing feats of physical power and dexterity become almost secondary when you hear the stories behind it all. The performers share with you how they got into the art form and the personal challenges they overcame. Moments of humour and wit are mixed with adversity and hardship. The combination reveals honest and sincere people sharing their lives with the audience. You might start off listening to the beat of boom box but you will leave hearing the heartbeat of each performer. 

Jump First, Ask Later: Parkour from fhe Streets of Fairfield is vibrant in its story telling. It’s a joy to watch young people overcome life’s hurdles by hurdling over life.


Jump First, Ask Later
Parkour from the Streets of Fairfield

Venue: Studio | Sydney Opera House
Dates: 22 September - 2 October 2016
Tickets: $29 – $39
Bookings: sydneyoperahouse.com | 9250 7777