In a joint announcement by acclaimed contemporary circus company Circa and the team at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), it was today confirmed that a new limited-run world premiere is heading to the Playhouse stage from 5 to 8 July 2023. Titled Duck Pond, this production is pitched as a circus adaptation of the world’s most romantic ballet, Swan Lake, and set to feature Circa’s signature physicality, haute couture costumes, and live-feed green screen action.
Yaron Lifschitz, Circa’s Artistic Director, shared the inspiration behind the new work:
I wanted to make something beautiful, funny, sophisticated and accessible; a kind of mythical unicorn that reaches across ages and artistic preferences.
I chose Swan Lake as the basis because it has everything – good and evil, black and white, and of course a lot of tutus. I reinterpreted the story to take place in the magical world of a film set and here among the glamour and romance we created Duck Pond, a fantastical circus mash-up bringing together the worlds of ballet, circus, film and theatre for an acrobatic spectacular.
The show differs from other Circa productions in that we’ve specifically generated it to resonate across all ages. There will be something in it for everyone, no matter who you are and where you’re from–whether you’re nostalgic for your ballet days or looking to be blown away with some awe-inspiring acrobatics.
Ballet, fairy tale and circus lovers alike will be transfixed as Duck Pond draws upon the worlds of Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling, as well as a variety of different acrobatic languages–from the seductive burlesque Black Swan to the clowning of the sequin flippered Duck Army
Duck Pond is the latest in a line of successful collaborations between QPAC and Circa, which have brought acclaimed new circus works to Australian and international stages. These works include Carnival of the Animals, Humans 2.0, and Peepshow. Performing in their hometown of Brisbane is always special for Circa, especially for a world premiere, and the team is excited to share Duck Pond with Brisbane audiences. According to Lifschitz:
It’s always special to be playing at QPAC and more so than ever with this being a world premiere. We can’t wait to share Duck Pond with Brisbane audiences and are excited to be working with the QPAC team to bring this show to life.
Audiences can expect a dose of humour, sparkling costume design and incredible acrobatics. Duck Pond will be an enchanting night out at the circus.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch commended QPAC and Circa on another creative partnership:
Circa continues to present outstanding, diverse, inclusive and unique productions, which expand audience expectations of circus performances.
The Queensland Government is proud to support Circa and QPAC, including providing additional funding to Circa to leverage philanthropic investment and grow a First Nations-led contemporary circus ensemble, Circa Cairns.
This new Circa and QPAC collaboration celebrates the importance of shared stories and all ages engagement with arts and culture. These are important priorities of Creative Together our 10-year roadmap for arts, culture and creativity in Queensland.
Duck Pond will showcase Circa’s extraordinary expertise in circus performance and its potential to make a significant contribution to the global stage of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas also expressed delight in supporting the creative vision and development of an original new circus work:
Our collaboration with Circa spans more than a decade, from Carnival of the Animals to the most recent work ON, with celebrated premiere and return seasons at QPAC, as well as acclaimed international tours.
Duck Pond promises to surprise audiences by turning a well-known ballet and fairy tale on its head, with Yaron’s imagination and choreography and Circa’s outstanding acrobats.
Duck Pond is pitched as being one of Circa’s most ambitious ventures yet, and will see Lifschitz in addition to ten members of the Circa ensemble bring this production to life on the Playhouse stage. As mentioned above, this is a limited 4-day, 5-performance production running from 5 July 2023 until 8 July 2023 inclusive. Tickets are now available to purchase exclusively from the QPAC website, or by calling their box office team during business hours on 136 246.
