Melbourne’s National Institute Of Circus Arts (NICA) is the largest educational facility dedicated to the circus arts in the Southern Hemisphere, and it is helping to make Australia a major creative player and contributor to the international circus arts scene. Each end of year student showcase delivers a snapshot of the fresh up and coming circus talent that is set to take Australia and the world by storm in the coming years.

Last year included some very fresh and experimental interpretations of what Circus is or could be. There was Rhapsody which took a youthful raw punk and street attitude to circus acts, feeding from latest technologies and our interactions with that. Earlier this year saw the collaboration of guest director, Gavin Robins who helped create the extraordinary At First Sight, a series of vivid tableaus of love loss and romance through the combination of performance, circus arts and a wonderland of projection.

This month the direction of the end of year show, called simply Showcase is a more nostalgic circus vision, steeped in theatricality with large lashings of burlesque styled sensuality and romantic recollections of a largely lost style of travelling circus. From the moment you enter the space, it feels like you’re transported back in time. The first character we encounter is woman (Heather Garlan) in a red sequin dress, with a blond afro and a cigarette hanging limply from her mouth. She’s divinely camp and played perfectly with a touch of apathy.

Stand out performers were without a doubt the Circus Firemen (Joshua Phillips & Idris Stanton) who as independent performers have already gained quite a reputation around Melbourne for their street performances. They have mastered their crafts as performers, actors and showmen, delivering precision awe-inspiring circus acts teamed with well delivered comedy. They were a pleasure to watch, and I’m glad that they featured a few times in the production.

Also making quite an impression were, the equestrian riders (Hannah Cryle & Caroline Walsh) whose brilliant trapeze work will have you gasping and laughing.

I can’t complete this review without mentioning the exquisite perfectly timed rope work of Julian Aldag, that was rich with emotion, sensuality and sexuality that left the entire audience gob-smacked. His incredibly sexy act was similar to one he did last year, and just as breath-taking. Look out for this star in coming years.

The hand balancing skill and incredible bodies of Aiden Heyes and Jessica Ward were magnificent and utterly captivating. I just wish they had put these two talents side by side in the one act.

There’s plenty of fabulous magic, acts of daring and great skill to marvel at. All in all though, the acts that required team work were more interesting than the solo pieces, and were undoubtedly more successful.

Not all the acts were ‘perfect’, but in many instances this actually added to the experience, and it made the eventual success of the act being performed that much sweeter. For example, a performer might miss their foot on first attempt on a tumble, or knock a hoop over when jumping through it. They would then attempt it again, and succeed. It reminded you that there is real skill and danger in circus performing, and it also highlighted the courage of the performers to ‘get back on the horse’ and get on with the show.

The costuming is just gorgeous! Influenced clearly by the rise in popularity of burlesque and circus thematics, coupled with a touch of Bob Fossey and Vaudeville. The performers are already great eye-candy and the amazing costumes make them even more delicious.

Showcase is a a wonderfully visually whimsical and fun circus experience, that wow you and stir your enthusiasm for the circus arts. At only $20 a ticket, it’s also great value for money for a great night of entertainment that everyone will enjoy.

SHOWCASE plays at the National Insititute of Circus Arts (NICA) Corner of Green Street and Thomas street in Prahran, till the 12th December at 7:30pm.