Backbone

Backbone
Gravity and Other Myths. Adelaide Festival. Dunstan Playhouse. March 14th – 19th, 2017

Raw, entertaining and at times mesmerising - this is Backbone, presented by Gravity and other Myths (GOM). The concept of this production, directed by Darcy Grant, is a devised circus that examines strength honestly, ironically and personally. Whilst this reviewer couldn’t quite grasp the underlying theme, I thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle and show for what it was, an amazing and jaw dropping showcase of dedicated and talented acrobats.

Jacob Randell, Jascha Boyce, Simon Mclure, Lachlan Binns, Meike Lizotte, Lewie West, Martin Schreiber, Joanne Curry, Lachlan Harper, Jackson Manson and Shenton Gregory make up this ensemble. The dedication and love they all have for their art is very evident in the performance. Lights up and the audience is greeted with what looks like the end of a relaxing yoga class; 11 relaxed people on their backs on a bare stage. Very soon this turns into well-choreographed, ordered chaos - clothes flying through the air from one person to the next, buckets of sand being tipped on each other and all over the stage - all the while these performers are tumbling, leaping, somersaulting climbing on and talking to each other.   

With so many fantastic performers in such an amazing show, this troupe is a true ensemble. They all work together seamlessly and no one performer outshines any other. Each troupe member gets their own special moment and this group are not just acrobats, they are entertainers. There is humour entwined with touches of drama, and a game of elastics was never like that when I played it as a youngster. The girl with the rock and the girl suspended on sticks were mesmerising. One scene brought to mind a Pinball Machine, all parts working in harmony with the others in perfect synchronicity. Never before have I seen a human skipping rope and people literally being thrown around the stage. The troupe does things with their bodies that, at times, had the audience gasping in disbelief.

All of this performance requires supporting technical design and creativity. Designer Geoff Cobham and visual creatives Lachlan Binns and Simon Mclure deliver in spades; the lighting enhances and supports the performance without being intrusive. Composers and musicians Elliot Zoerner and Shenton Gregory have also created a soundtrack to enhance and immerse the audience.

Gravity and other Myths (GOM) is a local Adelaide company formed in 2009. They design and create their own work, emphasising an honest approach to performance, hence moving away from traditional circus and theatre models; no glitzy costumes, no special effects, just raw basic performance at its best.

Stomp meets Cirque, and there is no better testament than an opening night standing ovation.

Maxine Grubel

Photographer: Shane Reid

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.