BRISBANE FESTIVAL AND QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE PRESENT
CIRCA (AUS)
Brisbane Festival is an initiative of the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council
EN MASSE
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
P L AY H O U S E , QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 19 – 22 September WORLD PREMIERE
For some reason when I approached David
BRISBANE FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S NOTE There’s no doubt that Circa is one of the glories of Brisbane. In a city internationally recognised as one of the top circus centres in the world, Circa is a beacon. Brisbane Festival has long been part of its story, very often premiering its work, but En Masse is perhaps the most ambitious of those premieres.
Berthold with an incoherent gabble about wanting to combine The Rite of Spring, Schubert’s late songs, electronic music, the end of the world, the start of a new one, the behaviour of groups in times of crisis all within an acrobatic and circus show; he didn’t run screaming. Instead he patiently listened to me gnaw at various approaches until En Masse became a thing. And now here we are. When a show features the end of the world and the start of a new one, there isn’t much to add except to thank David and the Brisbane Festival Team, our brilliant collaborators
Yaron Lifschitz and his team are, for me,
Tamara-Anna Cislowska, Michael Kieran Harvey
at their best when meeting music of high
and Robert Murray plus Klara Lewis for her
distinction. This project certainly sets that bar
music and Libby McDonnell for her costume
high. And to have such exceptional musicians
design – all expertly enabled by Circa’s
as Tamara-Anna Cislowska, Michael Kieran
indefatigable producing and production
Harvey, Rob Murray and Klara Lewis mixing
teams and of course our magnificent ensemble
it with Schubert, Stravinsky and the Circa
of artists who battle touring life, the limits
acrobats – well, that’s a dream. We had
of their bodies and the challenges of making
to mount the work.
new work which is herculean at the best of
I’ve no doubt that this world premiere, one
times and often simply impossible.
of eight in this year’s Festival, will see En Masse
In En Masse we have progressed from those
begin a long and fruitful journey around the
early impulses, stumbling towards what you’ll
festivals and centres of the world.
see tonight: a show in two parts which speaks
Long may Circa reign.
of fresh starts and old endings, of violence
David Berthold
and tenderness, of groups and individuals, of destruction and of abundant hope. Yaron Lifschitz
Front cover image by Damien Bredberg
CIRCA
JASON ORGAN
Circa Contemporary Circus is one of the
Technical Director
world’s leading performance companies. Since 2004, from its base in Brisbane, Australia, Circa has toured the world – performing in 39 countries to over a million people. Circa’s works have been greeted with standing ovations, rave reviews and sold-out houses across six continents.
YA R O N L I F S C H I T Z
Jason Organ graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 1988. He has worked as a technician, rigger, lighting designer and production manager. Jason was the co-founder of JLX productions, a lighting design and technical consultancy, based in Brisbane. Since January 2010 Jason has been working exclusively with Circa, lighting and production managing their international tours.
Director Yaron Lifschitz is a graduate of the University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, and National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), where he was the youngest director ever accepted into its prestigious graduate director’s course. Since graduating, Yaron has directed over 60 productions including large-scale events, opera, theatre, physical
KLARA LEWIS Original Music Klara Lewis is a Swedish composer, born 1993. Her critically acclaimed debut album ‘Ett’ was released by Viennese record label Editions Mego in 2014. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Audio-Visual Production, and has collaborated with Simon Fisher Turnerand Rainier Lericolais. Her new
theatre, and circus.
album, ‘Care’, is released later this month.
LIBBY MCDONNELL
Michael Kieran Harvey
Costume Designer Libby McDonnell works across disciplines as a designer, choreographer, director and performer and has an Associate Degree (Dance) from the Queensland University of Technology. As Associate Director with Circa, Libby has designed costumes for all of Circa’s major creations since 2010 and has show directed and managed tours in Australia and abroad.
Pianist Dr Michael Kieran Harvey is a Tasmanianbased musician. He has received significant international recognition and awards as a pianist and composer, and is a keen contributor to, and commentator on the artistic scene in Australia. He has especially promoted the works of Australian and contemporary composers and recorded over 40 solo CDs on various labels. He has premiered many new Australian and international concertos with all Australian symphony orchestras, with compositions held at the AMC and his numerous recordings can be found on iTunes.
Tamara-Anna Cislowska
NATHAN BOYLE
Pianist
Circa Acrobat
Tamara-Anna Cislowska is one of Australia’s
Nathan Boyle studied at the National
most renowned pianists, performing in
Institute of Circus Arts, Nathan specialised
Australia and internationally to critical and
in cloudswing, adagio, bungee trapeze and
public acclaim. Soloist, Musical Director and
teeterboard. Nathan joined Circa in 2011 and
ABC Classic FM presenter, Cislowska has won
has since entertained audiences nationally
numerous international prizes and toured
and internationally.
Japan and the USA as cultural ambassador for Australia. With five ARIA no.1 albums, her accolades include ABC Young Performer
MARTY EVANS Circa Acrobat
of the Year, the Freedman Fellowship, an Art
Marty Evans trained at the National Institute
Music Award for ‘Performance of the Year’
of Circus Arts in Melbourne. He is a fiercely
(ACT) and the 2015 ARIA for ‘Best Classical
determined and hard working hand-to-hand
Album’. tamara-annacislowska.com.au
base that enjoys exploring new challenges and techniques, and joined the Circa
R O B E R T M U R R AY
Ensemble in 2015.
Tenor Robert Murray was a Young Artist at The Royal Opera House, and has sung for English National
PIRI LeE GOODMAN Circa Acrobat
Opera, Opera North, Garsington Opera, Welsh
Piri Lee Goodman began his circus journey at
National Opera, Norwegian Opera, Hamburg
age eight and completed a Bachelor of Circus
State Opera and Salzburg Festival. Concert
Arts at the National Institute of Circus Arts in
highlights include Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius with
Melbourne. Piri was also a founding member
the Seattle Symphony Orchestra conducted
of Poncho Circus and joined the Circa
by Edward Gardner, Haydn’s Creation with
Ensemble in 2018.
the Simon Bolivar Orchestra under Dudamel. Recordings include critically acclaimed versions of Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin with
Keaton Hentoff-Killian Circa Acrobat
Andrew West and Mendelssohn’s Elijah under
Keaton Hentoff-Killian has performed on-stage
Paul Mccreesh. Rob is extremely happy to be
since he was one month old, and attended
collaborating again with Yaron Lifschitz and
Ecole Nationale de Cirque, specialising in tight
Circa after the memorable experience of
wire, hoop diving and Chinese pole. Keaton
touring Il Ritorno in 2016.
joined Circa just after he graduated in 2016.
CAROLINE BAILLON
KIMBERLEY O’Brien
Circa Acrobat
Circa Acrobat
Caroline Baillon discovered circus when she
Kimberley O’Brien joined the Circa youth
was just seven years old, and studied in the
performance troupe Circa Zoo. In 2011, after
professional circus program at the prestigious
two years of training and performing, Kimberley
Ecole Nationale de Cirque. Caroline joined the
left Circa Zoo and fast tracked to became
Circa ensemble in 2017.
a full-time ensemble member.
AMANDA LEE
Rowan Heydon-White
Circa Acrobat
Circa Acrobat
Amanda Lee discovered her unique love for
Rowan Heydon-White started flying around
creativity and movement at an early age,
on a trapeze at an early age, holding a Bachelor
studying gymnastics and dance before
of Arts, majoring in Physical Theatre, and
graduating from the National Institute
a Diploma in Circus Arts. Rowan became
of Circus in 2017. She joined Circa in 2018.
a full time Circa Ensemble member in 2013.
Cecilia Martin
Bridie Hooper
Circa Acrobat
Circa Acrobat
Cecilia Martin found a passion for circus early
Bridie Hooper tumbled into Spaghetti Circus
on, attending Warehouse Circus in Canberra.
at the age of 11, and studied at the Montreal
Cecilia went on to co-found the company Poncho
National Circus School. Upon graduating
Circus before studying at the National Institute
in 2012, Bridie toured Quebec with Vague
of Circus Arts (NICA), joining Circa in 2016.
de Cirque, before returning to Australia to work for Circa.
Daniel O’Brien Circa Acrobat Daniel O’Brien has been physically active
TODD KILBY Circa Acrobat
throughout his whole life, studying at the
Todd Kilby joined the National Institute
National Institute of Circus Arts, specialising
of Circus Arts in 2008, specialising in Chinese
in hand-balancing and aerial straps. Daniel
pole and hoop diving. Todd has a passion and
joined Circa as an ensemble member in 2015.
love of performing and entertaining audiences through exploration and raw human energy, joining Circa in 2011.
PROGRAm Act 1 – Endings Music from Schubert’s Winterreise and Schwanengesang, with original music by Klara Lewis, performed by Robert Murray.
Act 2 – Beginnings The Rite of Spring, for four hands (1913), by Igor Stranvinsky, performed by Tamara-Anna Cislowska and Michael Kieran Harvey.
CAST AND CREATIVES Performed by Caroline Baillon, Nathan Boyle, Martin Evans, Keaton Hentoff-Killian, Piri Lee Goodman, Rowan Heydon-White, Bridie Hooper, Todd Kilby, Amanda Lee, Cecilia Martin, Daniel O’Brien, Kimberley O’Brien Tenor Robert Murray Pianists Tamara-Anna Cislowska and Michael Kieran Harvey Original music by Klara Lewis
Direction and Stage Design Yaron Lifschitz Costume Design Libby McDonnell Lighting Design Yaron Lifschitz and Richard Clarke Costume Creation Sue Gibson, Janie Grant and Amanda Lakin Assistant Costume Design Anna Handford Technical Director Jason Organ Props Jon Blake Producer Danielle Kellie
Brisbane Festival Chair Paul Spiro Deputy Chair Philip Bacon AM
Artistic Director David Berthold Chief Executive Officer Charlie Cush
Circa acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Circa respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands, waters and seas on which we work and live, paying respect to Elders, past, present and future. The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky is used by permission of Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, exclusive agent for Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd of London”
QPAC EMERGENCY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Patrons are advised that the Performing Arts Centre has EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES, a FIRE ALARM system and EXIT passageways. In case of an alert, patrons should remain calm, look for the closest EXIT sign in GREEN, listen to and comply with directions given by the in house trained attendants and move in an orderly fashion to the open spaces outside the Centre.
In keeping with the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Brisbane, the Turrubul and Jagara Yuggera Peoples, and recognise that this has always been a place of creative expression. We wish to pay respect to their Elders – past, present and emerging – and acknowledge the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within our creative community.
D O N ’ t m i s s t h i s a lt o g e t h e r D A R I N G s h o w !
“Legs On The Wall blasts physical theatre into a new and triumphant dimension.” The sun-herald
LEGS ON THE WALL (AUS)
BOOK NOW
26 – 29 September | BRISBANE POWERHOUSE
D O N ’ T M I S S B R I T T E N ’S A LT O G E T H E R E P I C O P E R A !
“Stuart Skelton is the best Peter Grimes I’ve ever seen.” The SPECTATOR, UK
BRISBANE FESTIVAL, OPera queensland, philip bacon am, queensland performing arts centre and queensland symphony orchestra present
BY BENJAMIN BRITTEN (uk)
BOOK NOW
20 & 22 September | Concert Hall, QPAC