Circus WOW’s big performance event in 2016 was ‘One Really Big Circus Show’. Held in October at Circus Monoxide, this show was the brainchild of WOW trainer and member Jane Davis, working in collaboration with Neisha Murphy and Charlie Truscott. The show brought together a number of different circus groups and performers in the Illawarra – Circus Monoxide, Circus WOW, the Burgh Circus, Wollemi (the Autism Support Unit at Dapto High School) as well as professional performers including Tamara Campbell, Neisha Murphy, Louise Clark and Corie Hurry.
A triple sell-out success, each show began with roving characters from WOW who greeted and entertained the crowd. Then came a Curtain Raiser performed by a community group, Wollemi, Burgh Circus or a group hot off the press from a Circus Monoxide holiday program.
Circus WOW provided much variety and colour in the show with performers in a range of acts:
- clowning
- adagio (acro balance)
- aerials
- hoop juggling
It was a first for WOW working together with such a range of groups for a show, but greatly appreciated the opportunity and everything which Jane, Neisha and Charlie put into making the show happen, and the in kind support of Circus Monoxide. As the photos show, all the women had so much fun!
A show such as this pushes everyone in so many ways – the inspiration and creation of acts and costumes, commitment of time and energy to practice, rehearse and perform and time and muscles to help ‘bump in’ (get the space ready for the performance) and ‘bump out’. A true test of circus community spirit and connection with one another. This is what makes circus great!
