Photos: Supplied.
This is an adrenaline rush of physical theatre meets top-shelf street culture meets high intensity sports, supported and driven by spectacular lighting and a live soundtrack. The drummer keeping the pulse is Gene Peterson, who’s also the director, producer, composer, and ringmaster of this high-energy urban circus.
“We’ve reinvented a traditional stereotype circus by replacing the conventional disciplines with contemporary street styles, so instead of acrobats we have break dancers, instead of a juggler we have a basketball freestyler, instead of a unicyclist we have a BMX rider – everything’s been given a twist from the street,” Gene says.
“It really is the street meets the elite because we’ve headhunted the world’s best from each of those disciplines – world champions, world record holders, award-winning artists and athletes in a dream team cast.”
Gene says the concept was born of childlike enthusiasm and the question of how many types of awesome he could get on one stage. The structure grew from building relationships across the different disciplines, finding which motions married up between a BMXer and a breakdancer, or between a cyr wheel artist and a basketball freestyler, and from trying to find natural collaborations and working as a squad. Then there’s the theatricality added by the production values, with brilliant lighting, an incredible video design, and a stunning live soundtrack performed by award-winning musicians.
“This show appeals to all ages because we all have an inner child and the performance is delivered as a high-energy spectacle suitable for anyone and everyone. Dads can bring their daughters, grandmothers can bring their grandsons. They’ll all enjoy it equally.” Gene says.
There are only five shows at RPAC from January 15 to 17 before the show heads overseas for a world tour. For tickets, go to rpac.com.au.
