Sydney Social 101 was invited to the opening night of Cirque Africa, what a night it was! The stunning production as it brings the world’s best circus acts from Africa to the Australian stage for the very first time.
Cirque Africa is a world-renowned acrobatic circus performance that is unparalleled in its energy and excitement. Having toured the globe, it arrived in Australia for the first time in 2015 and is sure to impress those who appreciate theatre, music and African culture. Produced and directed by ‘Papa Africa’ aka Winston Ruddle, the show is a combination of acrobatics, theatre, song and dance. Cirque Africa is a celebration of African culture, both new and old and has been described as the ‘greatest show from Africa’.
The 90 minute show began in VICTORIA on the 24th of June in Melbourne, AT BURNLEY OVAL IN RICHMOND. It will remain in Burnley for a month before moving to Marriot water Shopping Centre in Lyndhurst on the 24th of July. From there, it will move to Burnside Shopping Centre for a month from the 24th of August before moving to the Geelong Showground in December. In early 2016, the show will move from VIC to WA before continuing its two year trek across Australia.
Cirque Africa has travelled to the USA, Germany, Costa Rica, Italy, France, Romania, Russia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, performing sold out shows, before coming to Australian shores.
“The show is a true delight for the senses and is sure to get the audience members’ hearts racing!” says Ruddle. We’ve worked extremely hard to present a show that will introduce Australian audiences to African culture, both traditional and modern, and leave them utterly mesmerised. We are striving for an energetic response from the audience – we want you to take your breath away and get you up out of your seat.”
Ruddle and his team have taken on the impossible and are bringing to Australia 70 tonnes of circus and stage equipment, professional sound lighting, elevated seating for 1,100 people and a twelve metre high big top all the way from Africa. This is the first time the show will be performed in a big top and Ruddle is excited to see his spectacle taken to the next level.
The highly-skilled cast is made up of 38 of Africa’s finest aerial artists, jugglers, stilt dancers, contortionists, clowns and more. While the core of the cast hail from Tanzania, the show draws influence from the musical cultures of Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gambia and Zimbabwe. The cast will be dressed in over 200 one-of-a-kind African costumes and will be joined by an eight piece live band.
Some of the notable performers include but are not limited to; The Amazing Hakuna Matata Acrobats who are the largest African acrobatic group in the world, Emmanuel Laryea, Zaina Shabani, The Charming Wubshet Amare, Baraka Juma, Selemani Musa, Ibrahim Tulwo, The Sound of the Drums from Ivory Coast, Jean-Marc Kouassi Agbogba, Yetnayet Melese & Asmare Nega, Lidiya Dawed & Tegegn Shewalem, Ebrima Mbye, Lazarus Mwangi, Teame Gebregziabher Ersie, Leul & Nahom and Fadhili Ramadhani & Omary Ramadhani – all acts are backed by an 8 piece live orchestra from Zanzibar and Zimbabwe, playing live music composed just for the Australian tour.
Ruddle has extensive experience in stage performances, having founded and directed the renowned Mother Africa shows well as Cirkafrika 1 and 2 in all the French speaking countries which have been a global success. When scouring for talent for Mama Africa in Tanzania, he founded Mama Africa’s acrobat school. The artists from Ruddle’s school have performed in venues on five continents, including on New York’s Broadway. Ruddle is the first black African in the world to own, direct and produce a circus show in a big top. Lindani Berman is Co-Director and Scenic Director and is on a mission to perfect a circus that combines the millennial repertoire of the Beijing Circus, the technical mastery of the Moscow circus and the joie de vivre of the Africa continent.
The show is primarily a visual performance and therefore no language or cultural barriers will pose a problem for English-speaking audience members.
Ticketek will be selling all advance tickets. For more information on the show and how to book tickets please visit www.cirqueafrica.com.au. Ticket prices vary depending on seating area.
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