Thinking outside the tent

Time and again, Adelaide Fringe has been the place to go for something a little out of the ordinary, and its circus offering is no exception. So roll up as Eddie Harrison takes a closer look at some of the alternative shows coming your way

Let’s all go to the circus. Or rather, let’s go beyond the circus. At the Adelaide Fringe, there’s no need to settle for the old-school clown cars and yawning lions of yesteryear, as the alternative circus concept returns with a bang.

Let’s start with YUCK Circus who present their newest creation DEADSET, billed as ‘an all-Aussie powerhouse show’ which promises to take a comic look at all aspects of Australian life as we currently know it. That means, in their own words, a celebration of ‘tradies, Vegemite and tinnies’, zeroing in on issues of national identity and TV shows like Kath & Kim to the recently cancelled Bondi Rescue. Sure to appeal to the larrikin in us all, YUCK features female and femme-identifying voices alike, and the company boasts a healthy roster of awards to demonstrate that they’re anything but niche. Ribbons, hoops, roller-skating and choreographed group routines all feature, plus an 80s rock soundtrack including AC/DC that’s sure to shake you all night long.

Also pushing the envelope, albeit in a rather different direction, are the Laser Kiwi trio, offering a blend of high-level circus feats and sketch comedy in their Rise Of The Olive show. As the title suggests, it focuses on no less an attraction than the humble yet reliable little snack. For too long, it has been a bit-part player in live theatre, but this show aims to break taboos and expand our understanding of the olive itself. Imogen Stone and brothers Degge and Zane Jarvie will also attempt a handstand on two tumbling towers of custom-made Jenga blocks, which sounds both remarkable and foolhardy at the same time.

Fear that the world is going to pot? An Artist & An Acrobat is a fresh performance piece that merges ceramic sculptures of queer artist and crochet fiend Sam Matthewman with the juggling and circus skills of Emily Loe. The emphasis here is firmly on ceramics, as Matthewman and Loe aim to trace back performance tradition to 500 BC and beyond. And any show that combines ceramic sculpture with juggling can only be described as a potentially smashing time.

What else should you be rolling up for? The Fool’s Paradise precinct will showcase a selection of 25 of the Fringe’s best circus and burlesque acts. Or for something more athletic, The Defiant is back in town, fresh from winning the coveted Best Circus award in 2022. So if you’ve got the necessary bread, the circuses will be provided.

YUCK Circus: DEADSET, Fool’s Paradise, Victoria Square/ Tarntanyangga, 21–26 February, 28 February–5 March, 6.30pm; Laser Kiwi: Rise Of The Olive, The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, Rundle Park/Kadlitpina, 17 February–19 March, 9.30pm; An Artist & An Acrobat, Gluttony, Rymill Park/Murlawirrapurka, 11–13, 18 & 19 March, 3.45pm; The Defiant, Gluttony, Rymill Park/ Murlawirrapurka, 17 February–19 March, 6.40pm.