Cinemata Circus [May 2021] | Vulcana Circus

Cinemata Circus is a new hat for Vulcana, and I have to say I like the fit. In this second outing, Artistic Director Celia White, collaborated with Chae Lindeman and Frans Vogels of More Than Mime, to bring their highly imaginative flavour to her own powerful brew.

My first impression of the evening was one of enchantment, as I took in the sculptured statue of a divine angel everyone wanted to gather around, that is until she moved… or did she? I got so much pleasure simply watching people react to this performance. Brisbane audiences rarely experience the art of living statue like this, outside the world of street art; and this is one of the key elements that makes this event so exciting.

Cinemata was originally conceived by Vulcana’s Angela Peita, also the producing powerhouse behind Ruckus Brisbane and Wham Bam Cabaret Slam. Her concoction is an old skool movie night with projector, roving circus performers, and a bar and bake sale all in one. It’s your dreamiest sleepover crammed into three hours, with raffle tickets to boot. Cinemata is also a fundraiser, and the first time it ran as a belated welcome to Vulcana’s new location, at Morningside.

On top of all this, it is fast becoming a low-key space where Brisbane artists meet in their down time; to relax, play, and watch their achievements together. Vulcana’s house is sublime and expansive, and in such a place the possibilities seem endless. Artists crave this kind of time and space, and I witnessed both literal and metaphorical magic amidst the mingling.

Punters were greeted by Lindeman’s steampunk pirate floating on dreams, bubbles, and her signature opulence. As she whizzed around the room, I found myself thinking back to the roving performers of Cinemata 2020; and I actually laughed out loud, as I remembered covid safety clowns Earnest and Frank, brandishing a larger than life inflatable hand to meet social distancing requirements.

I had no problem coming back to the present when out of nowhere, one of the kids in the audience chucked an impromptu handstand on one of the crashmats. It was such a nice surprise. In another part of the room a couple were dancing a mean freestyle to the background music; and I felt drawn by a haphazard circle of adults sitting on the floor, doing something mysterious with tissues. There was so much to engage in, that when the cue came to take our seats for the opening film, I found myself making a bucket list of what I wanted to do in the intermission.

In this opening film segment we saw documentary footage on three different Vulcana shows: Viva Frida [2014] a work inspired by Frida Kahlo; Home Fictions [2004] about the fictions of the home; and Strange Creatures [2006] about issues surrounding reproduction and disability.

The moment the credits rolled; my brain went straight to Collective Capture [2020], the opening film from last year. Perhaps it’s because the two pieces had such a distinctly different feel, with the latter having been created not only at home, but during lockdown. With poignancy, hilarity and grace, these performers generously offered up their souls on a platter.

It was intriguing to see how these performers were encountering their homes differently to the way they would encounter a circus apparatus; a stage; or even a clowning class. Certainly, the difference in these pieces was also in the methods White used to bring them together.  

Freakishly talented mime artist Vogels, gave us one of his most delightful characters in intermission, as a vintage photographer who reminded me of a keepsake one might find in an old toy shop. He seemed to be frozen, but then started moving according to a timer… quite possibly in an ode to the earliest of cinematic magicians. This was the perfect act to get us in the mood for the finale.

The feature film on this most recent night, The Cost of Living [2004] by DV8 Physical Theatre, was bold, bizarre, and clever. This award-winning film totally subverts the way society thinks about ability, including exciting scenes like a raunchy romp between double amputee David O’Toole and his lover; and a dance piece with an ensemble of men led by O’Toole.

My favourite scene was the very final moments between O’Toole and Eddie Kay. As one man bends to touch the ground and shifts his weight, the other perfectly perches on his lower back, as inadvertently, O’Toole becomes able to walk and Kay is now disabled. Slowly they began their next journey with each step confidently nuanced… and it was magnificent.

Something about the bravery and vulnerability of this film reminded me of the feature of the first manifestation of Cinemata. The Dark, by Rock and Roll Circus (now CIRCA) is a seminal piece of circus and film history from the early nineties that was nearly lost forever. For me, watching it together as a community was a sacred experience. Not only were we celebrating such an important piece of circus history; we were paying homage to Rock and Roll co-founder the legendary Derek Ives. There will never be another night like it, with lots of old faces coming out of the woodwork, including the film’s Musical Director Brettski Parker. Long-term supporters of both Rock and Roll and Vulcana circuses were also there to reminisce.

In recalling that night I had a flashback to the lavish vibe. The set and accessories included a full length mirror, dress up clothes and a photo booth anyone could pose in. There was also a clothing stand by Petra Pan Performance Apparel. These small yet personal touches gave this night the subtle background glamour it needed.

Since the first Cinemata I’ve done a lot of thinking. For me, these events are the epitome of everything Vulcana Circus embraces and works hard to achieve. Supporting art forms that society is on the verge of losing is a big part of this including, clowning, mime, roving stilts, living statue, and even short films. At the same time, almost conversely, Vulcana excels in bringing that to an audience through new ways of making art and utilising new technologies.

Vulcana definitely challenges any stereotypical notions of superstars, or a hierarchy amongst the talent; and they often blur the lines of audience and performer too. These are all gaps once thought impossible to bridge; and just another of the reasons, Cinemata Circus is such an exciting addition to the regular arts scene. If you want to be among the stars for the night, this is definitely the wagon to hitch yourself to!