About Circus Oz

Circus Oz was born when Soapbox Circus and the New Ensemble Circus merged in 1978. The company's 30th birthday year marks three successful decades of international touring. From New York to Hong Kong, Circus Oz has taken its spectacular self-crafted performances to 26 countries across five continents, to critical and popular acclaim.

Circus Oz was one of the world's very first full-scale contemporary animal free circuses and cited as one of the inspirations for Cirque du Soleil. The show used traditional circus skills, like trapeze, juggling and high wire, and together with live music popular theatre and satire, created something entirely original. It immediately won the hearts of Australian audiences.

In the 1980's, Circus Oz led the way for a new era of contemporary circus and physical theatre troupes that appeared across the world. At the same time Circus Oz underwent a major skills development phase through intensive training with acrobats from China's Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe.

Many audiences of the twenty-six countries Circus Oz has performed have never seen anything quite like it before. Circus Oz has broken box office records at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and played sell out seasons on 42nd Street in New York. They've performed one-off gigs at refugee camps on the West Bank; appeared at the Royal Festival Hall in London, and the Tivoli in Copenhagen; set up their tent in a walled compound in Bogota where the crowds almost rioted to get in; and performed in a glass opera house in the Brazilian rainforest.

One of the hallmarks of Circus Oz is its multi talented and multi-skilled performers and crew with backgrounds that vary from The Flying Fruit Fly Circus to The Australian Council of the Arts. Show Director, Tim Coldwell is the only founding member still with the company although Costume Designer Laurel Frank, has been involved since 1978. Circus Oz 30th Birthday Bash has 12 performers, including three specialised musicians. Music is a major component in Circus Oz and all music is originally composed and created to fit each act.

Circus Oz, is uniquely Australian and wears its heart on its sleeve, supporting social justice, equality and a good time for all. Believing totally in tolerance, diversity and human kindness, Circus Oz has raised money for AIDS, the Starlight Foundation for seriously ill children, refuges for the homeless, shelters for the victims of domestic violence, families living on housing commission estates, the Red Cross, the Royal Children's Hospital, and Anglicare Kids in Crisis. Circus Oz has also had a long-standing connection with refugees and asylum seekers. Numerous tickets have been given to refugees from East Timor, Kosovar and others living in Detention camps. As well as ticket give-aways to indigenous Australians, the company has undertaken performances and workshops at Maribyrnong and Villawood Detention Centres.

Email: The editor@thebigidea.co.nz with the subject line Circus Oz tickets
Include: Your question, TBI username, your full name and contact details
Eligibility: To be eligible you must be a member of The Big Idea. You must be able to attend the show and tickets are non-transferable.
Entries: Need to be received by midnight February 25.
Winners: Will be contacted by email on February 26.

Tim Coldwell - Founding Member, Show Director

Tim is a founding member of Circus Oz, after being founding member of New Circus. He's been a clown and ringmaster with Circus Royale, a tent hand and elephant boy with Ashton's Circus and he's walked on a high wire from the top of the Adelaide Festival Centre across the Torrens River. Read more information about Tim here.

Image: By Rob Blackburn

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