CIRCUS: With the promise of “hot bodies and sweet tricks”, anticipation was running high as we headed to the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre to watch Australia’s premier performers present Wunderkammer.
World-renowned production company Circa were in town to deliver us two mind-blowing performances – 61 Circus Acts in 60 Minutes on Friday night and Wunderkammer on Saturday night.
I was expecting to be blown away with the insane athleticism and polish of the athletes as they propelled themselves across the stage and landed with pin-point precision – and they did not disappoint.
The surprising element was the quirky, theatrical, uncomfortable elements to the show.
It was clear Wunderkammer’s creator wanted to push us to the edge of our seats, confuse and slightly horrify and then bring us back to reality.
As cast member Duncan West said before the show, it’s “circus but not as you know it”, everything has been rearranged and rejigged to breathe new life into the old favourite.
Interspersed with the exhibitions of incredible strength and control as performers balanced upside down anchored by one hand on another’s head, the traditional elements of circus ridiculousness were recognisable.
At one point a male performer marched onstage, rolled out a length of bubble wrap and proceeded to have the time of his life dancing and popping away, descending into frenzy as he attacked the bubbles with the abandon of a child.
Another act saw one of the girls perched on a rope swing high above the stage before she shocked the audience by swinging and flipping her body through the air, at one point hanging from the swing by just her ankles and for the grand finale, just her neck.
Needless to say, audible gasps filled the air throughout the performance with a few audience members covering their eyes at the unbelievable feats.
The incredible athleticism was obviously matched with superbly muscular bodies, which the cast were more than happy to display by gradually removing clothing until they were as close to naked as could possibly be allowed in a reputable theatre.
And hey, if you’ve got it flaunt it – I’m sure if I had a Circa body, clothes would be an unnecessary inconvenience.
When the show drew to a close, the audience filtered into the entertainment centre’s new Sky Bar to rave about what they had just experienced.
Before long the cast joined the party and mingled with the public.
The overall consensus was one of amazement that we were able to watch this internationally applauded production in our own backyard.
The centre is hoping to be able to bring Circa back to Bunbury in the future, so my advice would be to lock down your tickets as soon as they are available – you don’t want to miss this.
- By Shanelle Miller
