Disappearing Acts | Vulcana Circus
Disappearing Acts sees Vulcana deliver circus into green spaces throughout Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast region for Anywhere Festival. There are two shows in disappearing acts: I saw consignment 2 with performers Mayu Muto and Phoebe Manning on the lawn of the Moorooka Bowls Club. Vulcana does great work connecting with communities, and this setting felt very local: shouts from the soccer field next door could be heard up until the show, and kids ran around the field as parents grabbed drinks from the club bar inside. Truly possible anywhere, the show began as a van was driven onto the field, out of which came the two performers, setting up their set as the start of the show.
The van had truss strapped to the roof which formed a high stage, and supported a small beam from which hung a large framed picture of a forest. Several bird puppets on lawn sticks fenced the performance space, creating a simple but charming set up. We were introduced to Denise (Mayu) and Joyce (Phoebe), citizen scientists and lovers of birds. The performers took the audience on a funny and sweet science adventure, informing us about the importance of citizen scientists and educating us on how amazing birds are.
Disappearing Acts was developed in collaboration with environmental scientist Ayesha Tulloch, evident in the many bird facts (some delightful, some sobering) woven throughout the performance. Birds facts and storytelling connected displays of a variety of circus skills including partner acrobatics, stilt walking, magic, and use of the framed picture of the forest for aerial work. My personal favourite was an inventive variation on a double ended poi, with the bowl like open ends containing water or a small bird twirled and twisted, staying in place through the force of the movement, before Mayu playfully threw the water towards the crowd.
The audience responded very positively to the performers, engaging with them at every opportunity. Phoebe and Mayu’s characters presented as incredibly likeable and wonderfully earnest, connecting with the audience directly from the moment they parked the van. The show contained multiple instances of mass audience participation, from bird calls to group dance, which was met with great enthusiasm from children and adults alike.
A great choice for families, this show offers something for various age groups. It is accessible to younger children in its joyful presentation and quirky characters, and has enough deeper meaning included to connect with older kids. As the van pulled away, I could see a very young child joyfully shouting “we love birds” at one of the performers, while another slightly older child said something to their parents about being angry that we aren't helping birds more. This educational and delightful show can also be enjoyed by adults, and I will definitely be heading along again the next time Vulcana presents one of their compact circus shows.
