From rabbit heads to Rubik's cubes, Arts Festival Dunedin show Beyond adds a few twists to the circus ring, writes Shane Gilchrist.
Kathryn O'Keeffe certainly puts a different spin on the concept of work routine.
When the performer in Brisbane-based company Circa is not on tour, she and husband Paul are likely to be found at the troupe's Fortitude Valley studio, where they hone manoeuvres both old and new.
''Our office routine involves climbing upside down, hanging off people,'' O'Keeffe explained via phone earlier this week before Circa packed its ropes, poles and various other props in preparation for Arts Festival Dunedin, at which it will present Beyond.
Set on multiple stages within stages, including small red-curtained worlds that offer a glimpse of, in no particular order, a cabaret, a zoo or an asylum, Beyond blends typical circus acts such as trapeze and Chinese pole with multiple rabbit heads, Rubik's cubes and blindfolds, set to a mix of show tunes, ballads, rock music and electronica.
''In Beyond, we look at the line between humans and animals and the animal within all of us,'' O'Keeffe explains.
''Within the show there are various quirky journeys. Characters are constantly jumping into the rabbit hole, not knowing what might happen next. We do handstands, jump on and climb up people, balance on poles ...
''Every Circa show is quite different. You might see a handstand act in another Circa show but it's going to be completely different. Everyone has a different idea or reason for why they do something,'' O'Keeffe says.
''We are all intrigued by what other companies are doing. At the same time, we are trying to push what we can achieve physically.''
Kathryn O'Keeffe emphasises that although she and her fellow performers test their limits (the company's newest show is called The Physical Impossibility of Disappearing), safety remains paramount.
''We will push boundaries, but we also train a lot and look after our bodies. We won't do things we deem aren't safe, because we have to maintain our bodies. So while we do test new skills, we don't put those on stage until we are ready to. We are very safety-conscious.
''We'd generally arrive at the theatre a few hours before the show in order to warm up as well as work on other skills we are interested in incorporating eventually. We also warm down and stretch after each show. We look after our bodies, as we have to do this day-in, day-out.
''Everywhere we go, we are on the lookout for good physiotherapists, osteopaths and massage places ... we have structures in place to make sure people are looked after.''
O'Keeffe trained in Canberra as a gymnast and dancer before going to the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) in 2003 to study dance. She then worked independently for theatre, festivals and other events, performing as well as creating works that combined dance, physical theatre and circus.
''In the group, there are people who did youth circus and grew up knowing they would do adult circus. Others have been to the equivalent of a circus university.
''However, my path has been a bit different. I danced for quite a few years until, when I was in my 20s, I thought, 'ooh, circus ... '.''
O'Keeffe (30) first worked with Circa in 2011, performing in South Korea. She has been a full-time ensemble member with Circa since 2012. In Beyond she plays the role of a reindeer.
''My specialty is blindfold dancing. I balance on some handstand canes - on my hands, my feet. You might have something you specialise in, but you also do other things in the show. You climb on people, people climb on you, or you run around.''
Since forming in 2006, Circa has performed in 30 countries. Last year, the company performed more than 400 shows, including in Paris, New York, Montreal, Madrid, London, Edinburgh and Berlin, where it premiered Beyond before taking it to the biennial New Zealand Festival, held in Wellington earlier this year.
"We are constantly working on it,'' O'Keeffe says.
''There are always more ideas as we delve into the characters; there are always things we want to improve on. It keeps us interested in the show as well.''
The show: Circa presents Beyond at the Regent Theatre on Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11 (at 8pm) as part of Arts Festival Dunedin.
