LOCAL circus company Circartus was such a hit at the last two Akoostik Festivals that they have been invited back to help open this year’s festival on the Friday night, October 17.
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Circartus have been working on a women’s performance project called ‘Clusion’ especially for the festival.
‘Clusion’ promises to be a vibrant and dazzling spectacle, and includes static triple trapeze acts, balancing acts (called ‘adagios’) and work on the Tissus (French for ‘silks’) suspended from the ceiling.
One of this year’s performers, Clare Rourke, joined Circartus in April this year after seeing them perform at last year’s Akoostik Festival.
She said there are lots of physical and mental challenges. “It’s surprising how mentally challenging it can be,” Clare said. “And you get very fit.”
And fit indeed they are. Although the performers make their work look very graceful and seamless, it is a lot of hard work. Members develop and rely on physical strength, agility and balance. And most importantly, trust in each other.
The youngest member of the Clusion team, 12 year-old Finlay Ross, only joined Circartus early this year, yet looks like a seasoned performer on the tissus. Finlay says she enjoys the non-competitive aspect of it.
The project has been very much a collaborative process between the director Jill Watkins from Circartus, aerial choreographer Violet Morrison, musical director Sandra Kwa, and the performers, including Kath Palmer, Rebecca Cox, Eddi Raglus, and stage manager Noah Palmer.
Even the music was chosen by the group, and ranges in style from popular to classical. Sandra Kwa will be performing the music live, with children from the circus school helping out with percussion.
Circartus students will also be performing their own item at the festival, called ‘Fuerza’ (Spanish for inner strength).
Fuerza will be performed in the pavilion at Wingham Showground on Saturday, October 18 at 3.30pm and Sunday, October 19 at 11am.
Clusion will be showcased at the Akoostik Festival opening on Friday, October 17 at 6pm, and repeated on Saturday at 12.30pm and Sunday 1pm.
The Circartus Circus Tent will be open Saturday from noon to 4pm with a show and tell session at 2pm, and Sunday from 11-2pm.
James Reyne is one big name ready to rock Akoostik. Check out who else will be at the 2014 Wingham festival? Click here