Model Citizens is the latest show by Circus Oz. It will be part of the Sydney Festival at Parramatta. The show continues the Circus Oz tradition with high-energy entertainment and political commentary. It also introduces the new artistic vision of the company’s incoming creative director, Rob Tannion. This is a polished, politically aware, and entertaining work.
Tannion, who spent 22 years in Europe and South America working as a director, choreographer, and senior creative for dance, theatre, and circus, returned to Australia to take on the position last year. Mike Finch, former Circus Oz director, is replaced by Tannion. Finch’s legacy was significant. After 17 years, he saw the company move to a purpose-built facility in Melbourne. He also developed important initiatives, such as the BLAKflip program for young Aboriginal performers, and maintained its 40-year commitment towards politically-driven circus, diversity, and gender equality.
Tannion made his debut at Circus Oz on Sydney’s first night. The audience, which included members of the circus community, festival directors and representatives of funding bodies, politicians, and the general public, was all filled with anticipation.
Model Citizens is a production designed by Michael Baxter and features his gigantic everyday objects that dwarf the performers. They create a disorienting sense of space for the audience and serve to reimagine traditional circus apparatus.
A giant safety pin is used as Chinese poles by dynamic acrobats Lachlan Sukroo & Jake Silvestro. A big clothes peg is used as a springboard for acrobatics. Mitch Jones stacks oversized model credit cards into a tall tower in a modern take on the chair-balancing tradition. The performer then climbs the building before it collapses. This is a symbolic representation of the dangers associated with living on credit.
Acrobat/musician Alex Weibel Weibel’s extraordinary rope-walking act is one of the highlights of this high-energy show. He balances on a single rope while playing the violin and performs aerial cartwheels in mid-air by holding four strings at once. Annalise is an artist who shows precision and poise with her hand-balancing and in her fearless partner’s work.
Jarred Dewey catches the audience’s attention with a clever and inventive contortion act in which his feet are attached to giant steam irons. He also performs a solo trapeze act while wearing red high-heeled heels.
Freyja Edney’s control and dynamism impresses when she twirls hula hoops. Tania Cervantes on aerial slings and Rose Chalker McGann with tissue are both excellent. Tara Silcock is a master of transitions. She can go from clown to acrobat to foot juggler, all while balancing giant cocktail umbrellas in a giant Martini.
This show is a great example of the commitment that Circus Oz has to gender equality. Edney, at one point in an all-women acrobatic routine, places Silcock on top of her shoulders. Moore then follows suit to form an all-female human pyramid. Cervantes Chamorro, Chalker McGann, and Cervantes Chamorro then stepped up on Edney to make her support four women. This demonstration of strength and willpower was a huge success.
Model Citizens’ real success lies in its seamless integration of entertainment and political and social commentary. Freyja Edney sings, “I love diversity… but not in my backyard”, and musician Jeremy Hopkins performs, “Worship my Weber.” A flaming Adani-fired barbecue threatens to roast Mitch Jones to death for “not paying [his] bills” as he tries to escape from an upside-down straightjacket while hanging above the flames.
Reuben Hopkins, the sound engineer, is the man behind the electric guitar solo. The show-stopper is a live electric guitar solo by Hopkins.
The final scene features a rope bridge that spans the width of the stage. The unusual apparatus, which is bespoke, transforms into a jungle gym where the entire ensemble can perform partner work, acrobatics, and contortions.
The entire Sydney audience was on its feet and cheering when the cast of musicians and circus artists took their bows to close this show on the opening night.