Parra News April 2 2024

ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIES, TELEVISION, MUSIC AND MORE – PARRAMATTA’S LEADING ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
CIRCUS
WITH A
TWIST!
CASSIDY PEARCE
Jake Silvestro has been working with the
‘Fruities’ at The Flying Fruit Fly Circus
for three years, yet the majority of his
time has been spent directing one show
– ‘Tempo’.
“The first version of the show, we made in
2021, and did a little 20-minute version of the
show. Then, in 2022, we extended that out and
we did a schools tour and a trip to the Sydney
Opera House,” he said.
‘Tempo’ is a unique show for the young performers
involved, who are all participating in
Australia’s only full-time circus training program
for students aged eight to 19.
Though Silvestro said he always encourages
the students to have other creative outlets, this
one in particular capitalises on their musical
abilities.
“It’s a circus show that’s all based around a
grand piano,” he said.
“We were gifted the prop from a theatre company
in Melbourne, and we decided that we
were going to make a show that was all acrobatics
combined with music.”
However, with plenty of skill among the
bunch, Silvestro noted that this hasn’t been a
particular challenge.
“We’ve got a couple of really talented cast
members who are also musicians, so about
half of the show is live music, and the other
half is pre-recorded music from our amazing
composer Ania Reynolds, who is touring with
the show as well,” he said.
“It really just leans into the larrikin attitude
of The Flying Fruit Fly Circus. It’s a very funny,
very acrobatic, really dynamic show, but it
also incorporates the multi-disciplinary ability
of these young people. It’s really inspiring.”
It is also a homage to what’s been a tradition
in Australian circus for many years.
“In other new circus forms, like Circus Oz
when they were touring, they would often
have not just the company band, but the acrobatic
ensemble would also be playing instruments,
and that’s something that I think is a
really important, key cornerstone in Australian
circus, and something that we’re trying to
continue that legacy with this cast,” he said.
For anyone who has seen the show prior,
Silvestro assured that this iteration is all new,
focusing on the skillset of the current ensemble.
“Between the run that we’re doing this year,
and the run that we did in 2022, we’ve actually
had half the cast change over, because the kids
have graduated from school,” he said.
“We really try to support the unique skills of
the kids that come in, so for example this time
around in the show we’ve got a trapeze act that
wasn’t previously in there, and we’ve got a teeterboard
act that’s a little bit different to what
we’ve done in the past.”
‘Tempo’ is coming to Riverside Theatres in
Parramatta these school holidays, and promises
a fun hour for all.
“The show doesn’t have any dialogue, so
there’s no language barrier, which I think is a
really great thing,” he said.
“It’s all about music, it’s all about rhythm,
and it’s all about the charismatic energy of
these young people.
“They basically just run laps around the
stage for the whole hour, and show off their
amazing tricks.”
‘Tempo’ will be on at Riverside Theatre
in Parramatta on Tuesday, April 16 and
Wednesday, April 17. Tickets start at $29.
For more information or to book, visit riversideparramatta.com.au.
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