The Rope Warrior, Michael Armstrong, of Christchurch,
dazzles in mid-air, while Nick Name, of Auckland, bases the
rope. Photo supplied.
A modern New Zealand circus is coming to Queenstown in
early February, with tertiary educated performers and no
animals on show.
Circus Aotearoa announced this week it will raise the big top
on Warren Park, Gorge Rd, and entertain Wakatipu audiences
from Friday, February 4 to Sunday, February 6.
A cast of eight New Zealand and Australian performers play
multiple characters in 15 acts. The line-up for the 90-minute
summer spectacular includes aerial acrobatics, swing trapeze,
juggling, contortionists, "red-nose and contemporary"
clowning and more.
The Raglan-based directors and troupe are venturing to the
South Island for the first time on their third tour.
Co-director Paddy Gordon told the Queenstown Times it
was a very modern circus, with the cast qualified in the
diploma in circus arts, at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute
of Technology.
The days were over of travelling circuses providing the only
opportunity for rural communities to see exotic animals, and
circuses had to move with the times.
"It's like a theatre version of what our view of the
traditional circus is like," Mr Gordon said.
"It's more vaudeville, with banter from the ringmaster and
the audience gets to interact with the acts. A little bit of
magic and a lot of laughs."
Circus Aotearoa opens in Queenstown, next Friday, at 7.30pm,
with performances on Saturday, February 5, at 11am and
7.30pm, and Sunday, February 6, at 2pm.
Tickets start from $17 for adults and from $12 for children,
depending on age and seating option. Three-year-olds and
under are free.
Tickets are available on site an hour before the show. The
box office is cash only.
Group and family discounts are available.
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