This Time It’s Personal | Sam Evans
Evans came out strong and committed to character, bringing robots, dolls, and puppets to life amidst hectic high energy tricks in a very small space. It was a lot of fun. He is a strong comedic performer and commanded the audience early on with dance techniques you really need to see to believe.
In a show of his versatility, Evans also took us to his darkness and his quiet peace too, all the while holding space, manipulating it with his body… sometimes seemingly defying the laws of physics.
A Collection of Circus | Cluster Arts + Independent Artists
Cluster Arts, the company behind Brisbane’s newest festival CIRCFest Meanjin, commissioned three independent artists to present snippets of their solo works in development. I think it is a great initiative to show audiences works in different stages, giving us a sneak peak at new Queensland works to come.
Can I Help? | Aaron Dora & Renee Dobbyn
It’s strange to think about how when the lockdowns initially began, I was filled with anxiety and fear around what would happen to me both physical and mentally; to now watching a reading of a play that delves into those fears and anxieties, but finding myself laughing at certain scenes and then being taken back to sadness when the emotional scenes hit. ‘Can I Help?’ does a really good job at weaving in the drama and the serious nature of its topic, while also providing laughs and a fun quality to it.
We The Aliens | Ela Bartilomo and Cecilia Martin
They’ve moved us into the round, which for the most part works, although pieces down the far end of the room require you to crane your head. They are using segues that don’t entirely make sense on the surface. Which is good. I get tired of having everything spelled out for me, and when something is ambiguous and creative and exploring edgy themes I want the opportunity to let my imagination run wild. I want to see if I can figure it out. It’s what make art fun and interesting.
1.5x12 | Phluxus2 Dance Collective
“I’ve found time to recalibrate my understanding of self in this shifting terrain. More than ever I feel the deep value of my choreographic self, my collaborators, my community and the significance of arts and culture of our country.” Nerida Matthaei on creating in the new normal.
Under My Eye | Bianca Mackail
This work stands out in a mass of sexual-sequinned glamour pusses and full-frontal theatrical wonders. It is raw and fresh and utterly unique and when there is a second season don't miss the opportunity to check out an artist in full flight.
Collab Works 2019: Recipe | Shari Indriani & QUT Technical Production
Overall, it’s a work that engenders an excitement for the future of Brisbane’s theatrical community. The script itself is obscenely strong, the performers uniformly excellent and the developing talent involved are seemingly already cultivating excellent instincts. Hopefully, Brisbane will be seeing more of all involved.
Mutating Roots | Mayu Muto
In Mutating Roots, common aerial apparatus are cleverly transformed beyond their traditional forms in circus. Muto has added interesting textures and shapes to each apparatus, creating new depth, light and shadows to explore these themes.
Re:membering | UMWELTCollective
This is deeply personal work. This is about these two sisters; not all sisters, but these ones in particular. The tides of the relationship are marked out, sometimes it is abundantly clear to us the vicissitudes, other-times we are left to wonder.