En Masse in-theatre program

BRISBANE FESTIVAL AND QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE PRESENT

CIRCA (AUS)

Brisbane Festival is an initiative of the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council

EN MASSE

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

P L AY H O U S E , QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 19 – 22 September WORLD PREMIERE

For some reason when I approached David

BRISBANE FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S NOTE There’s no doubt that Circa is one of the glories of Brisbane. In a city internationally recognised as one of the top circus centres in the world, Circa is a beacon.

Brisbane Festival has long been part of its story, very often premiering its work, but En Masse is perhaps the most ambitious of those premieres.

Berthold with an incoherent gabble about wanting to combine The Rite of Spring, Schubert’s late songs, electronic music, the end of the world, the start of a new one, the behaviour of groups in times of crisis all within an acrobatic and circus show; he didn’t run screaming. Instead he patiently listened to me gnaw at various approaches until En Masse became a thing. And now here we are.

When a show features the end of the world and the start of a new one, there isn’t much to add except to thank David and the Brisbane Festival Team, our brilliant collaborators

Yaron Lifschitz and his team are, for me,

Tamara-Anna Cislowska, Michael Kieran Harvey

at their best when meeting music of high

and Robert Murray plus Klara Lewis for her

distinction. This project certainly sets that bar

music and Libby McDonnell for her costume

high. And to have such exceptional musicians

design – all expertly enabled by Circa’s

as Tamara-Anna Cislowska, Michael Kieran

indefatigable producing and production

Harvey, Rob Murray and Klara Lewis mixing

teams and of course our magnificent ensemble

it with Schubert, Stravinsky and the Circa

of artists who battle touring life, the limits

acrobats – well, that’s a dream. We had

of their bodies and the challenges of making

to mount the work.

new work which is herculean at the best of

I’ve no doubt that this world premiere, one

times and often simply impossible.

of eight in this year’s Festival, will see En Masse

In En Masse we have progressed from those

begin a long and fruitful journey around the

early impulses, stumbling towards what you’ll

festivals and centres of the world.

see tonight: a show in two parts which speaks

Long may Circa reign.

of fresh starts and old endings, of violence

David Berthold

and tenderness, of groups and individuals, of destruction and of abundant hope.

Yaron Lifschitz

Front cover image by Damien Bredberg

CIRCA

JASON ORGAN

Circa Contemporary Circus is one of the

Technical Director

world’s leading performance companies.

Since 2004, from its base in Brisbane, Australia, Circa has toured the world – performing in 39 countries to over a million people.

Circa’s works have been greeted with standing ovations, rave reviews and sold-out houses across six continents.

YA R O N L I F S C H I T Z

Jason Organ graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 1988. He has worked as a technician, rigger, lighting designer and production manager. Jason was the co-founder of JLX productions, a lighting design and technical consultancy, based in Brisbane. Since January 2010 Jason has been working exclusively with Circa, lighting and production managing their international tours.

Director Yaron Lifschitz is a graduate of the University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, and National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), where he was the youngest director ever accepted into its prestigious graduate director’s course. Since graduating, Yaron has directed over 60 productions including large-scale events, opera, theatre, physical

KLARA LEWIS Original Music Klara Lewis is a Swedish composer, born 1993.

Her critically acclaimed debut album ‘Ett’ was released by Viennese record label Editions Mego in 2014. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Audio-Visual Production, and has collaborated with Simon Fisher Turnerand Rainier Lericolais. Her new

theatre, and circus.

album, ‘Care’, is released later this month.

LIBBY MCDONNELL

Michael Kieran Harvey

Costume Designer Libby McDonnell works across disciplines as a designer, choreographer, director and performer and has an Associate Degree (Dance) from the Queensland University of Technology. As Associate Director with Circa, Libby has designed costumes for all of Circa’s major creations since 2010 and has show directed and managed tours in Australia and abroad.

Pianist Dr Michael Kieran Harvey is a Tasmanianbased musician. He has received significant international recognition and awards as a pianist and composer, and is a keen contributor to, and commentator on the artistic scene in Australia. He has especially promoted the works of Australian and contemporary composers and recorded over 40 solo CDs on various labels. He has premiered many new Australian and international concertos with all Australian symphony orchestras, with compositions held at the AMC and his numerous recordings can be found on iTunes.

Tamara-Anna Cislowska

NATHAN BOYLE

Pianist

Circa Acrobat

Tamara-Anna Cislowska is one of Australia’s

Nathan Boyle studied at the National

most renowned pianists, performing in

Institute of Circus Arts, Nathan specialised

Australia and internationally to critical and

in cloudswing, adagio, bungee trapeze and

public acclaim. Soloist, Musical Director and

teeterboard. Nathan joined Circa in 2011 and

ABC Classic FM presenter, Cislowska has won

has since entertained audiences nationally

numerous international prizes and toured

and internationally.

Japan and the USA as cultural ambassador for Australia. With five ARIA no.1 albums, her accolades include ABC Young Performer

MARTY EVANS Circa Acrobat

of the Year, the Freedman Fellowship, an Art

Marty Evans trained at the National Institute

Music Award for ‘Performance of the Year’

of Circus Arts in Melbourne. He is a fiercely

(ACT) and the 2015 ARIA for ‘Best Classical

determined and hard working hand-to-hand

Album’. tamara-annacislowska.com.au

base that enjoys exploring new challenges and techniques, and joined the Circa

R O B E R T M U R R AY

Ensemble in 2015.

Tenor Robert Murray was a Young Artist at The Royal Opera House, and has sung for English National

PIRI LeE GOODMAN Circa Acrobat

Opera, Opera North, Garsington Opera, Welsh

Piri Lee Goodman began his circus journey at

National Opera, Norwegian Opera, Hamburg

age eight and completed a Bachelor of Circus

State Opera and Salzburg Festival. Concert

Arts at the National Institute of Circus Arts in

highlights include Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius with

Melbourne. Piri was also a founding member

the Seattle Symphony Orchestra conducted

of Poncho Circus and joined the Circa

by Edward Gardner, Haydn’s Creation with

Ensemble in 2018.

the Simon Bolivar Orchestra under Dudamel.

Recordings include critically acclaimed versions of Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin with

Keaton Hentoff-Killian Circa Acrobat

Andrew West and Mendelssohn’s Elijah under

Keaton Hentoff-Killian has performed on-stage

Paul Mccreesh. Rob is extremely happy to be

since he was one month old, and attended

collaborating again with Yaron Lifschitz and

Ecole Nationale de Cirque, specialising in tight

Circa after the memorable experience of

wire, hoop diving and Chinese pole. Keaton

touring Il Ritorno in 2016.

joined Circa just after he graduated in 2016.

CAROLINE BAILLON

KIMBERLEY O’Brien

Circa Acrobat

Circa Acrobat

Caroline Baillon discovered circus when she

Kimberley O’Brien joined the Circa youth

was just seven years old, and studied in the

performance troupe Circa Zoo. In 2011, after

professional circus program at the prestigious

two years of training and performing, Kimberley

Ecole Nationale de Cirque. Caroline joined the

left Circa Zoo and fast tracked to became

Circa ensemble in 2017.

a full-time ensemble member.

AMANDA LEE

Rowan Heydon-White

Circa Acrobat

Circa Acrobat

Amanda Lee discovered her unique love for

Rowan Heydon-White started flying around

creativity and movement at an early age,

on a trapeze at an early age, holding a Bachelor

studying gymnastics and dance before

of Arts, majoring in Physical Theatre, and

graduating from the National Institute

a Diploma in Circus Arts. Rowan became

of Circus in 2017. She joined Circa in 2018.

a full time Circa Ensemble member in 2013.

Cecilia Martin

Bridie Hooper

Circa Acrobat

Circa Acrobat

Cecilia Martin found a passion for circus early

Bridie Hooper tumbled into Spaghetti Circus

on, attending Warehouse Circus in Canberra.

at the age of 11, and studied at the Montreal

Cecilia went on to co-found the company Poncho

National Circus School. Upon graduating

Circus before studying at the National Institute

in 2012, Bridie toured Quebec with Vague

of Circus Arts (NICA), joining Circa in 2016.

de Cirque, before returning to Australia to work for Circa.

Daniel O’Brien Circa Acrobat Daniel O’Brien has been physically active

TODD KILBY Circa Acrobat

throughout his whole life, studying at the

Todd Kilby joined the National Institute

National Institute of Circus Arts, specialising

of Circus Arts in 2008, specialising in Chinese

in hand-balancing and aerial straps. Daniel

pole and hoop diving. Todd has a passion and

joined Circa as an ensemble member in 2015.

love of performing and entertaining audiences through exploration and raw human energy, joining Circa in 2011.

PROGRAm Act 1 – Endings Music from Schubert’s Winterreise and Schwanengesang, with original music by Klara Lewis, performed by Robert Murray.

Act 2 – Beginnings The Rite of Spring, for four hands (1913), by Igor Stranvinsky, performed by Tamara-Anna Cislowska and Michael Kieran Harvey.

CAST AND CREATIVES Performed by Caroline Baillon, Nathan Boyle, Martin Evans, Keaton Hentoff-Killian, Piri Lee Goodman, Rowan Heydon-White, Bridie Hooper, Todd Kilby, Amanda Lee, Cecilia Martin, Daniel O’Brien, Kimberley O’Brien Tenor Robert Murray Pianists Tamara-Anna Cislowska and Michael Kieran Harvey Original music by Klara Lewis

Direction and Stage Design Yaron Lifschitz Costume Design Libby McDonnell Lighting Design Yaron Lifschitz and Richard Clarke Costume Creation Sue Gibson, Janie Grant and Amanda Lakin Assistant Costume Design Anna Handford Technical Director Jason Organ Props Jon Blake Producer Danielle Kellie

Brisbane Festival Chair Paul Spiro Deputy Chair Philip Bacon AM

Artistic Director David Berthold Chief Executive Officer Charlie Cush

Circa acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Circa respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands, waters and seas on which we work and live, paying respect to Elders, past, present and future.

The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky is used by permission of Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, exclusive agent for Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd of London”

QPAC EMERGENCY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Patrons are advised that the Performing Arts Centre has EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES, a FIRE ALARM system and EXIT passageways. In case of an alert, patrons should remain calm, look for the closest EXIT sign in GREEN, listen to and comply with directions given by the in house trained attendants and move in an orderly fashion to the open spaces outside the Centre.

In keeping with the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Brisbane, the Turrubul and Jagara Yuggera Peoples, and recognise that this has always been a place of creative expression. We wish to pay respect to their Elders – past, present and emerging – and acknowledge the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within our creative community.

D O N ’ t m i s s t h i s a lt o g e t h e r D A R I N G s h o w !

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LEGS ON THE WALL (AUS)

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D O N ’ T M I S S B R I T T E N ’S A LT O G E T H E R E P I C O P E R A !

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BRISBANE FESTIVAL, OPera queensland, philip bacon am, queensland performing arts centre and queensland symphony orchestra present

BY BENJAMIN BRITTEN (uk)

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20 & 22 September | Concert Hall, QPAC