It wouldn’t be winter without a visit to Melbourne’s own Circus Oz. 3008 chatted to cast member Paul O’Keeffe about travelling with the circus and what’s in store for 2010 audiences.

What attracted you to a career in Circus Arts?

I started training in gymnastics at age nine, the following year I started
classes at a local youth circus in Canberra, I very quickly changed from gym to circus. As a kid the excitement of going to see a circus and falling in
love with all things adventurous, the high skilled acrobats and the adrenalin
in what I saw was incredibly inspiring, infact one of those shows that inspired me the most was seeing a Circus Oz show in the early 90’s. I have been performing in the circus ever since.

The most enjoyable part of my career is looking out into the audience before the show starts and knowing the audience has no idea what is to come, then when it all begins standing on stage watching the audience being completely immersed in the excitement of the circus. Everyone has a really great night of fun entertainment, it’s where they can put aside anything else that may have happened to them during the day and become part of the circus family where they are allowed to let loose and have fun. I like to say I don’t go to work, I go to the circus.

What is the theme of this season’s show and are there many new performers and acts?

Our show is a rock-n-roll, animal-free circus that adults and children can enjoy together. It’s a spectacular show. This year’s show has been loosely influenced by the steam punk culture. Steam punk is a sub-genre of science fiction, an imaginary Victorian age, that features brass and copper clockwork and steam-powered inventions that go far beyond 1800s technology.

There are heaps of new acts jam packed into the new show, because there are so many new performers in the show we are really able to put new and exciting acts into the 2010 mix. Some fresh new faces and acts include: Hazel Bock, arguably one of Australia’s finest foot jugglers, can juggle a table with her feet. Sarah Ward aka Yana Alana/ex SistaShe is a powerhouse singer who can impersonate anyone from rap to opera to cabaret. Rowan Heydon-White is a super strong trapeze artist that performs incredible acts high in the air and there are still plenty of new performers and new exciting acts in the 2010 season.

I have been developing some new material of my own, a new acrobatic trick-bike act where I balance and ride a bike in a non-traditional way, I’m also creating a wonderful new aerial double trapeze act that is full of high level skills with a comic twist that is so much fun, I cant wait to show the Melbourne audiences.

Aside from your work with Circus Oz, you have created and performed in a variety of different shows, do you need to be mindful of not overdoing the physical demands on your body?

My body is my tool, I can’t do what I love without it working to its best ability, sometimes it hurts and it can be extremely sore and tired, but I do what I do because it’s incredibly enjoyable and rewarding ... so littlebumps and bruises heal. You do need to understand your limitations in order to work at a safe and effective level on stage, and on long tours that can be months away from home, trying to eat healthy, injury management, fitness and sustainability of my workload are always on my mind.

What makes Circus Oz still so successful here and internationally after three decades?

Because each and every year Circus Oz presents exciting new works that continually push the boundaries on the concept of contemporary circus. They’re still delivering what they set out to achieve thirty years ago with a bunch of people who wanted to defy the rules of theatre and physics, to perform exciting and inspiring work to people of all age groups and all walks of life.

Being the home of Circus Oz, how do Melbourne audiences respond
to the show in comparison to other audiences around the world?

I always enjoy performing to our home audience, Melbourne crowds are very warming to Circus Oz, performing under the heated big top tent in Melbourne has such an electrifying atmosphere with Melbourne audiences. Overseas the audiences vary in the way they express their enthusiasm. In Latin America they clap and cheer during the show.

In England they are often more reserved but at the end of the show they really clap. People enjoy it equally but respond slightly differently.

www.circusoz.com