Observer Magazine Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 17, 2013 - Page 13
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Melbourne
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www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
WHAT A CIRCUS!
■ The fourth annual World Circus Day on Saturday (Apr. 20), encourages families all over the world to celebrate the magic of the circus with a related activity. This could include attending a circus performance, dressing up as a clown, or presenting a little circus at home, complete with pets. Our own home-grown Circus Oz celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, and this wonderful company has come a long way since emerging in 1978 as a 'new wave' circus. I recently had the pleasure of talking with Circus Oz co-founder and senior circus artist, Tim Coldwell, in the company's atmospheric offices situated in the former Port Melbourne Post Office. The huge rehearsal space next door was formerly a Navy drill hall. Tim has walked a high wire from the top of the Adelaide Festival Centre, across the Torrens River, and next year his company moves into a $15 million custom-built facility at 35 Johnston St, Collingwood. Both are extraordinary accomplishments, so how and when did the circus world enter Tim's life? Tim remembers seeing his first circus at age 10, and started DIY training in circus arts at age 20, with a friend in the backyard. They bought a box of oranges and learnt to juggle, then bought unicycles, and tied a rope between trees to learn to walk the tightrope. Tim's first job was with Ashton's Circus, where he drove trucks, put the tent up and worked as an elephant boy. Tim says he learned by watching performers in action, and always asked questions. "If people saw you working hard and then you asked them questions, they would share their secrets."
● The Melantroppos: Jim Robertson, Michael Price, Tim Coldwell, Sue Broadway, Kelvin Gedye and Jack Daniels, in 1978. Photo: Ponch Hawkes When the flying trapeze was left up four colleagues to perform high wire The Circus Oz first overseas tour at the end of shows, Tim would take over the heads of the audience . was in 1980, and since then the comthe opportunity to hone his skills, and The show was called Waiter, There's pany has performed in 26 countries, continued his backyard training when a Circus in My Soup, and combined across five continents, and enjoyed at home. high wire with solo juggling and uni- much overseas and local success. After working for Circus Royale cycle acts. Tim says in the early days when as a clown and ringmaster, Tim Meanwhile, at the Australian Per- the entire company went on tour, there founded the Adelaide-based, animal- forming Group's Pram Factory in was nobody back here working for Cirfree New Circus. Carlton, future Circus Oz co- cus Oz, but things are different now. Starting as street circus, the New founder, Laurel Frank, was performOnce thing that has not changed Circus went on tour after Tim ac- ing in the Pop-Eye Puppets and later since the inception of Circus Oz is quired and repaired some old trucks. became part of the newly-formed Soap the company's admirable strong belief John Pinder, who opened the Last Box Circus. in social justice. Laugh Restaurant in Collingwood This six-member troupe of varied Tim says there has always been a in 1977, had circus connections, and talents used street and theatre perfor- conscious need for equal employment Tim came over from Adelaide with mance to express political views, and of women and, perhaps a legacy from their circus tricks included juggling and Pram Factory days, there is an pyramids. awareness of political issues, sympaThe late 1960s and 70s were an ex- thy for indigenous Australians and beciting time in Australia's emerging ing on the side of the oppressed. arts industry, with a vernacular voice Circus Oz ideology has always fodeveloping in locally-written works for cussed on offering circus theatre for the film, television and theatre. people, and Tim says this is still the Merging the traditional circus skill case today. talents of the New Circus performOne example is the company takers with the satire, music and theatrics ing shows to people in factory canteens of the Soapbox Circus, made a lot and industrial sites, to enable everyone of sense, and so the unique, animal free to enjoy a circus experience. circus with the Aussie-flavoured A long-standing connection with name, Circus Oz, was born in 1978. refugees and asylum seekers has seen Tim recalls designing the Circus Oz give workshops at detencompany's first tent to seat 600 people, tion centres, provide tickets, and also buying the material and hand-sewing invite audiences at the end of shows to the tent together with company mem- contribute towards helping this cause. bers in the Pram Factory basement. To date, $392,000 has been raised. Other forms of engaging in issues When asked if this was a financially risky venture, Tim says "We pursued associated with social justice, and giving all a good time at the circus, ina passion, and made a living." Their first gig was the 1978 clude benefits and tickets for those sufMoomba Festival then the Adelaide fering from AIDS, indigenous AustraFestival, followed by a 35-week stint lians, the Starlight Foundation, at the Last Laugh Restaurant in homeless shelters, victims of domestic violence, families living on housing 1979. Tim performed in aerial acts, while commission estates, the Red Cross, fellow Circus Oz co-founder, Lau- the Royal Children's Hospital, rel Frank, designed and made the Angli-care Kids in Crisis and other ● Sosina Wogayehu, 2006. Photo: Ponch Hawkes similar programs.
● Circus Oz co-founder Tim Coldwell celebrates the company's 35th anniversary. Photo: Malcolm Threadgold This thriving circus for the people often recruits new performers from smaller circus companies, where some may be NICA (National Institute of Circus Arts) graduates, or the youth-based Flying Fruit Fly Circus in Albury. Tim says it comes in handy to play an instrument as well as perform circus skills. Two indigenous Australian performers were in the current show, From The Ground Up, recently returned from an American tour, and will also be in the new show, Cranked Up. Over time, some performers join the management staff, while others have been known to move on to performing from operational work. Tim's enthusiasm is evident when he talks about plans for the new Circus Oz headquarters at the former Collingwood TAFE, with the big move scheduled for January 24, 2014. In typical generous Circus Oz style, Tim says the company also wants to share their new home with the broader community. Turn to P14
● Tim Coldwell as Happy Simpson. Photo: Ponch Hawkes