Sydney Reviews

Photos – Jamie Williams

Ethan Hugh was born with Asperger’s Syndrome and has a hearing impairment in one ear. He is open and honest about these things and rather than being a barrier to life they seem to have thrust him well and truly into the spotlight. 

Kaleidoscope is as joyous as it is heartfelt. Ethan and a team of circus performers bring you a delightful show that captures the chaos of Ethan’s life but delivers it to you with charm and charisma. Its creative use of colour and texture create a platform for the performance to unfold and submerse you in a world that is familiar and foreign at the same time.

The wonderful opening scene leads the audience into Ethan’s world and casts aside the solid ground upon which we usually walk. Although the performers move around the stage floor they are filmed from above and projected onto a screen. The effect is masterful in its ability to trick your brain and turn the world on its head.

By using the large screens to contribute a new dynamic, this show uses technology to positively enhance performance – something many shows fail to do. The technology was used as a tool never as a centre piece or a distraction.

From the beginning the show establishes a sense of family and this connection continues throughout the performance. It is in the mundane – a family depicted getting ready in the morning – the mad rush to brush teeth, do hair and getting everybody organised. But it is also present in the subtle – the trust and bond that must be present when performing acrobatics and other circus skills. Finally that feeling of family comes across as you watch the cast perform with Ethan. They care about his story and they share their skills and knowledge with him as he climbs poles, trapezes and leaps about the stage. You feel like they are a family and have become so throughout rehearsals and closer with every performance.

The cast were superb. Teisha Hinsch on the hoop, Kate Muntz on the aerial tissue, Alice Muntz on trapeze, Skip Walker Milne and Oliver Foley on pole were all terrific. Each of their talents left the crowd awed. I found myself either holding my breath or unable to hold back an “Oh my God”.

Kaleidoscope throws you into a spectacular world where you hold onto familiar threads to keep with the new dynamics. It introduces you to Ethan’s life and a whole new perspective on Asperger’s Syndrome and its effect. It opens your eyes and without ceremony casts aside any stereotypes held about what Asperger’s Syndrome means. Ethan shows you the world through his eyes and it is full of wonder, fortune and happiness. He never says it is easy and you never feel that it is but Kaleidoscope with the incredible support of his friends allows Ethan to show the world his love for his own unique soul and celebrate the extraordinary adventure that has been his life thus far.


2017 Sydney Festival
Kaleidoscope

Venue: Riverside Theatres | Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta NSW
Dates: 13 – 18 January 2017
Tickets: $36 – $32
Bookings: www.sydneyfestival.org.au