Wunderage

At the revamped Victorian Meat Market (built in 1880) in North Melbourne, a promenade circus performance takes place in the cobblestone pavilion.  Wunderage is a spectacle-circus collaborative show directed by Circus Oz’s Rob Tannion and Company 2’s Chelsea McGuffin.

In an old worldly and retro inspired ambience, high wires cross the floor along with massive nostalgic props that include a sawn off Holden van, rock boulders and curious string instruments, plonked around the large yet confined space. The musicians light up and the show begins with a loud bang.

Wunderage is an immersive show, with no seats allowed, and audiences loosely gather around a series of elevated performances. The solo tight wire by Jess McCrindle is a short introduction to the many teetering wire acts.  There is ongoing movement and flow across the floor as performers and audience intersect between acts.

The Handstand tower by the prankster acrobat Skip Walker-Milne is mischievously orchestrated, along with his duo pole act with Phoebe Armstrong.  His Shoulder Pole Duet with David Trappes is simply thrilling as audiences are aghast with anticipation and excitement.

Wunderage takes us out of the circus ring - comfort zone and gives audiences direct connection with the performers. It is quite marvelous to be in contact with risqué acts. The bike highwire acts (Lachy Shelley, Justine McCrindle, Chelsea McGuffin) create a fumbling illusion of playful mishaps as audience encourage and clap with bemused excitement.

The “women on wire” act - a romantic performance of gravity and feminine prowess - follows three females in unison moving along the wire on sparkly stiletto heels. There is anticipation and a perpetual thrill-seeking atmosphere across all the acts, and audiences just can’t get enough of this wonderful elevated circus show without its tent.

There is highlighted key-lighting and a general low light dimness in the space. The costumes are retro circus designs (Harriet Oxley) and the fabulous innovative rigging by the construction team is masterfully designed.

I personally felt that an obligatory juggling and/or a roaming clown act would have cemented the show for me, but nevertheless it was still a magical experience.

Flora Georgiou

Photographer: Aaron Walker