Chat: Jeremy Davies from Circus Oz

From The Ground Up

Circus Oz

21 June – 28 July

review

Jeremy Davies is a circus, puppetry, physical theatre performer and director who has worked for companies such as Circus Monoxide, Circa (Rock and Roll Circus), Windmill Performing Arts, The Australian Choreographic Centre, QPAC, and Company Skylark.

He is a founding member of Out Of The Blue Studios, KRONIK and Blue Circus Studios and helped to create successful independent theatre productions KRONIK, Extreme Circus, Kronik Attack, Out Of The Blue, Warehouse Circus and Fallen and he’s performed in every Australian state and worked in France, Canada, China and America.

What do you do in From The Ground Up?

I bring the magic and the good looks.

What was the first circus trick you learnt?

When I was 10 years old I held my breath until I turned purple. Everyone thought I was so cool.

What circus skill do you wish you had?

Tiger trainer! I love those big cats; so cute.

What are you always up for?

Comedy! Anything that can make me laugh. Love a giggle.

When did you join Circus Oz?

The first time was 2006. This time since 2009.

What do you love about Circus Oz?

I love touring. I never get sick of rolling out of town.

Do you remember your first trip to the circus?

I saw a traditional circus in the early 80s. The clowns scared me and I cried when the bears came out dancing.

What’s your favourite post-show snack?

Without a doubt‚ a banana.

Who do you love seeing in the audience?

I love it when the audience starts throwing their underwear. That’s how I get all my new undies.

What’s your advice for people who want to run away to the circus?

Think for yourself! Question authority and express your dissent.

Where and what did you study?

Australian History at Lynham High School Canberra (Year 9).

What was your first circus performance?

A 3 club juggling solo for an Irish folk Band (The Tinkers), February 1990.

How many suitcases do you tour with?

One medium size suitcase with four wheels. Travel light  .

When you’re touring, what can’t you leave home without?

I can’t function without my espresso machine.

Where’s your favourite place to tour to?

Fayetteville, Arkansas. Love that Southern hospitality.

Popcorn: sweet or savoury?

SAVOURY!! Salt, salt, salt, butter, salt and more butter.

If you couldn’t be in the circus, what would you do?

Be professionally good-looking.

Are you scared of clowns?

Only Ronald. All my friends are clowns!!

If you could teach Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott a circus trick, what would it be?

I would teach them a disappearing trick.

This was on AussieTheatre.com

Chat: Bec Matthews from Circus Oz

From The Ground Up

Circus Oz

21 June – 28 July

review

Musician, teacher and mentor Bec Matthews completed a Bachelor of Music at VCA in 1999, and has since trained with the world-renowned Synergy Percussion Ensemble and Amsterdam Percussion Trio; recorded and performed with bands, orchestras and music theatre companies in Melbourne; and performed at festivals including The Melbourne International Arts Festival, Femes Funk Festival New Caledonia, The Falls Festival, Inverlock Jazz Fest, High Vibes, St Kilda Fest, The Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Castlemaine State Festival and the Copenhagen World Out Games.

She’s taught at The Women’s Circus and composed for their shows and in 2007, became percussionist, performer, composer and co-musical director for Yana Alana and Tha Paranas’s, who won a Melbourne Fringe Cabaret Award and a pile of Green Room Awards, including best musical direction and best original songs.

What do you do in From The Ground Up?

Play the drums and dangle from the ceiling.

What was the first circus trick you learnt?

I’m a musician but the first circus skill I learnt was to juggle three balls.

What circus skill do you wish you had? 

All of them!

What are you always up for?

A chat.

When did you join Circus Oz?

2010.

What do you love about Circus Oz?

Travelling to different parts of Australia and the world.

Do you remember your first trip to the circus?

Yes, my friend’s family took me to The Moscow Circus.

What’s your favourite post-show snack?

Sometimes it’s chips, sometimes it’s a carrot.

Who do you love seeing in the audience?

Smiling faces.

What’s your advice for people who want to run away to the circus?

Follow your dreams.

Where and what did you study?

Bachelor of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts.

What was your first circus performance?

With The Women’s Circus in 2005.

How many suitcases do you tour with?

One.

When you’re touring, what can’t you leave home without?

A good book.

Where’s your favourite place to tour to?

Somewhere I haven’t been before.

Popcorn: sweet or savoury?

Savoury, for sure.

If you couldn’t be in the circus, what would you do?

Make furniture.

Are you scared of clowns?

No.

If you could teach Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott a circus trick, what would it be?

A backflip…oh, they already know how to do that.

This was on AussieTheatre.com

Chat: Dale Woodbridge from Circus Oz

From The Ground Up

Circus Oz

21 June – 28 July

review

Formed in Melbourne in 1978, Circus Oz has toured the world as a rock’n’roll, animal-free circus with shows filled with breathtaking agility, death-defying stunts, awe-inspiring acrobatics and irreverent comedy that’s always accompanied by a spectacular live band.

Dale Woodbridge is graduating this year from Brisbane’s Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, where he majored in dance. Prior to his tertiary studies, Dale was a state gymnanst as well as a participant in Circus West, a youth circus-in-education programme in Dubbo, NSW and has continued to maintain his acrobatic skills since that time.

What do you do in From The Ground Up?

I’m an acrobat.

What was the first circus trick you learnt?

A thigh stand.

What circus skill do you wish you had? 

Bungee straps.

What are you always up for?

Dress ups!

When did you join Circus Oz?

2012.

What do you love about Circus Oz?

The people (soooooo funny).

Do you remember your first trip to the circus?

Yeah. I snuck around to the animal cages.

What’s your favourite post-show snack?

Chips and gravy.

Who do you love seeing in the audience?

My sisters.

What’s your advice for people who want to run away to the circus?

Bring optimism and leave your fear of heights at home.

Where and what did you study?

Dance at The Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts.

What was your first circus performance?

Storm Warning with Circus West (Dubbo).

How many suitcases do you tour with?

One.

When you’re touring, what can’t you leave home without?

Music.

Where’s your favourite place to tour to?

Middle Earth.

Popcorn: sweet or savoury?

Savoury.

If you couldn’t be in the circus, what would you do?

I’d be a dancer.

Are you scared of clowns?

Only the happy ones.

If you could teach Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott a circus trick, what would it be?

Knife-throwing.

This was on AussieTheatre.com

Chat: Stevee Mills from Circus Oz

From The Ground Up

Circus Oz

21 June – 28 July

review

Formed in Melbourne in 1978, Circus Oz has toured the world as a rock’n’roll, animal-free circus with shows filled with breathtaking agility, death-defying stunts, awe-inspiring acrobatics and irreverent comedy that’s always accompanied by a spectacular live band.

Stevee spent her childhood bouncing on trampolines, hanging from monkey bars and cartwheeling instead of walking. Not long after joining her local gymnastics club she was competing in Nationals and was dividing her time between the gym and drama classes.

After retiring from competitive gymnastics, her love of animals resulted in a career as an animal handler and she managed a dog kennel, a cat resort, and worked in Thailand at an animal rescue centre caring for Malaysian Sun Bears.

The decision to return to physical performance led her to the National Institute of Circus Arts, where she specialised in Aerial Cradle, Tight Wire and Teeterboard. Since graduating in 2010, she has performed at festivals around the country, including Woodford Folk Festival, Tasmanian Circus Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Stevee lives in Melbourne with her room-mate Kostya, a 60kg Mastiff and she still prefers cartwheeling to walking. 

What do you do in From The Ground Up?

Tightwire, toss the girl, flying trapeze, tumbling and the cow bell.

What circus skill do you wish you had?

Wheel of death.

What are you always up for?

A sleep in.

When did you join Circus Oz?

2011.

What do you love about Circus Oz?

Cake! We get lots of cake!

Do you remember your first trip to the circus?

Yes, a lion peed on the audience.

What’s your favourite post-show snack?

Whiskey.

Who do you love seeing in the audience?

My friends and family.

What’s your advice for people who want to run away to the circus?

Don’t trust the jugglers.

Where and what did you study?

I studied at the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) and received a Bachelor of Arts.

What was your first circus performance?

An ensemble show at NICA.

How many suitcases do you tour with?

Just one, but it’s very big.

When you’re touring, what can’t you leave home without?

A photo of my dog.

Where’s your favourite place to tour to?

Narnia.

Popcorn: sweet or savoury?

Sweet.

If you couldn’t be in the circus, what would you do?

Work with animals.

Are you scared of clowns?

Not anymore!

If you could teach Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott a circus trick, what would it be?

Counter-balancing.

This was on AussieTheatre.com

Chat: Luke Taylor from Circus Oz

From The Ground Up

Circus Oz

21 June – 28 July

review

Formed in Melbourne in 1978, Circus Oz has toured the world as a rock’n’roll, animal-free circus with shows filled with breathtaking agility, death-defying stunts, awe-inspiring acrobatics and irreverent comedy that’s always accompanied by a spectacular live band.

Luke Taylor is an acrobat, juggler and clown who joined the Flying Fruit Fly Circus when he was 12 and hasn’t left the circus since.

He toured internationally with the Fruit Flies, including a season on Broadway in The Gift, drove in a bus across the Nullarbor Plain with WA’s Lunar Circus and came to Melbourne as one of the first students at the National Institute of Circus Arts. He co-founded his own show called Caravan, which has appeared at many festivals, and appeared Circus Oz, Circa, Circus Risque and Throw Down.

What do you do in From The Ground Up?

A few tricks.

What was the first circus trick you learnt?

To balance a broom on my head.

What circus skill do you wish you had?

The ability to read minds.

What are you always up for?

A walk in the Blue Mountains.

When did you join Circus Oz?

2008.

What do you love about Circus Oz?

The freedom of expression.

Do you remember your first trip to the circus?

Yes. I was about 10 and I went and saw The Flying Fruit Fly Circus with my mum.

What’s your favourite post-show snack?

A banana.

Who do you love seeing in the audience?

Mum and Dad.

What’s your advice for people who want to run away to the circus?

Train hard, love pain.

What was your first circus performance?

At 12 I joined the Flying Fruit Fly Circus and did my first performance in Noriel Park in Albury.

How many suitcases do you tour with?

One.

When you’re touring, what can’t you leave home without?

My computer.

Where’s your favourite place to tour to?

Anywhere I haven’t been to yet.

Popcorn: sweet or savoury?

Savoury.

If you couldn’t be in the circus, what would you do?

Being a park ranger would be fun.

Are you scared of clowns?

No.

If you could teach Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott a circus trick, what would it be?

Julia basing Tony in standing on shoulders.

This was on AussieTheatre.com

Chat: Ania Reynolds from Circus Oz

From The Ground Up
Circus Oz
21 June – 28 July

review

Formed in Melbourne in 1978, Circus Oz has toured the world as a rock’n’roll, animal-free circus with shows filled with breathtaking agility, death-defying stunts, awe-inspiring acrobatics and irreverent comedy that’s always accompanied by a spectacular live band.

From The Ground Up 2012 is musician Ania Reynolds first show with Circus Oz. She plays keyboards, baritone saxophone, clarinet, drums, Brazilian percussion, French Horn. She’s worked with companies like Polyglot Puppet Theatre, Westside Circus, the Women’s Circus and Melbourne Workers’ Theatre and with performers like The Town Bikes and Heath McIvor. She won a Green Room Award for Best Musical Direction in Cabaret for Yana Alana And Tha Paranas In Concert and when she’s not jumping around on the Circus Oz stage, she performs with Afrobeat group Papa Chango, brass marching band The Red Brigade, and surf/garage/rock band Johnnie and the Johnnie Johnnies.

What do you do in From The Ground Up?
I play in the band.

What was the first circus trick you learnt?
How to headbang from my belly to avoid damaging my neck muscles.

What circus skill do you wish you had?
Playing trumpet upside-down on a trapeze without feeling like my eyes are going to pop out.

What are you always up for?
Jamming!

When did you join Circus Oz?
2012

What do you love about Circus Oz?
The people, fun, humour and philosophy.

Do you remember your first trip to the circus?
Yes, it was the Moscow Circus at the Entertainment Centre, 1987, Melbourne.

What’s your favourite post-show snack?
Red wine.

Who do you love seeing in the audience?
Everyone, from little kids to old folk. Quentin Bryce’s impeccably manicured hair (in Sydney 2012) was also a highlight.

What’s your advice for people who want to run away to the circus?
Do it! Don’t be afraid of makin’ it up as you go along. Play some sort of music too.

Where and what did you study?
NMIT – Advanced Diploma of Music Performance – Jazz/Contemporary/Popular.

What was your first circus performance?
With the Westside Circus band in Urban Heroes, Melbourne Fringe 2000.

How many suitcases do you tour with?
One – and it has 20% extra secret space.

When you’re touring, what can’t you leave home without?
My 20% extra space suitcase. My pandeiro. And red high-heeled Doc Marten boots.

Where’s your favourite place to tour to?
Madrid, Spain and deep south USA. And anywhere I haven’t been to before.

Popcorn: sweet or savoury?
Savoury (with chilli and salt)

If you couldn’t be in the circus, what would you do?
Surround myself with vintage keyboards and never leave the house. Or go to Brazil.

Are you scared of clowns?
No.

If you could teach Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott a circus trick, what would it be?
How to stick their head in the mouth of a lion. I wouldn’t be too worried about the outcome.

This was on AussieTheatre.com