Demand for the talents of students coming out of Aerialize, has been high overseas, and the aerial school has been having trouble retaining them in Sydney. Part of the solution is a new offshoot production company, Aerialize Company. With more than a dozen professional aerialists, they offer a new opportunity for a professional career path for the students, right here in the Inner West of Sydney.
Now, with grants from Marrickville Council and a new patron, PRA Global (who perform similar far-off-the-ground skills, but industry rather than entertainment), they have produced Clammy Glamour from the Curio-Cabinet. The Sydney Fringe sees the results of the third iteration of this work. The ten-person cast are pleased with the changed brought on by a recent intensive seven-day full-time creative workshop. I spoke to four of the performers about the process. “It was exhausting with many of use continuing on after a full day, to start teaching aerials at 8:30pm,” says aerialist Tanya Richards, “But it has really pulled it all together; the hard work has paid off.”
The piece has been produced in collaboration with directors, Annabel Lines and Simone O’Brien. They have assembled an assortment of magical characters straight from that toybox that is still hidden in the wardrobe at your parents’ house. Each character, a forgotten or broken childhood favourite, tells its own poignant story. However, performer Bel Macedone explains, “It has a theatrical pacing and strong characterisation, but it isn’t focussed on the narrative. It is the image-making which will challenge people to produce their own interpretations.”
Who should see it? “Anyone who wants to experience poison-ivy-flavoured fairy-floss,” suggests Tanya enigmatically. “Anyone who has ripped the head off a Barbie doll,” hazards Bel. Elli Huber is more sure “Anyone who had a teddy-bear with the stuffing knocked out… and didn’t care.”
Leanne Kelly and Elli, who also star in Food For Thought, consider the show’s imagery. “My 10-year old sister enjoys it, but it is a bit macabre for the younger ones.” suggests Elli. Leanne jumps in “And any older brothers might get some ideas about how to mistreat their sisters’ toys!”
I’d suggest it is a must for the lovers of physical theatre, and for people who want to be shocked and awed by an artform.
You don’t need to take my word for it: Any earlier version of the piece was captured on video last year, and the preview gives a glimpse of the dramatic flair of the team.
With a large cast of circus trainers, it can’t help but include a huge range of skills and talents, but it also includes a welcome number of unconventional apparatus, from counterweight tissu to triple lyra to string trapeze.
I have a pet theory that one criterion for success at the Sydney Fringe Festival is a name that cannot be said five times fast. Clammy Grammar… err.. Crammy Glam… this performance is Exhibit A! Between the name and the talents of the cast, it can’t help but be an item to circle three times, with a star, in your Sydney Fringe Program Guide.
Clammy Glamour From The Curio-Cabinet
Ensemble Cast: Lil Tulloch, Leanne Kelly, Elli Huber, Suzi Langford, Craig Hull, Bel Macedone, Tanya Richards, Scot Walker, Heidi Holmes, Kristi Wade
Wed, 15 Sep, 6pm
Thu, 16 Sep, 8:30pm
Fri, 17 Sep, 9:45pm
Thu, 23 Sep, 9:45pm
$24/$20
