The circus is coming to town but not as you know it.
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This circus is part of the Anywhere Theatre Festival and is called “Red Dust, Black Silk” but it isn't your usual sit down and watch-a-show affair.
Anywhere Theatre Festival is an annual festival of discovery, with independent performances and art exhibitions anywhere.
Anywhere but a theatre or gallery, that is.
When it comes to Mount Isa visitors will wander an industrial shed browsing photography on the walls, and gazing up at the aerial performers above.
Celebrating the North West’s red and dusty landscape will be Jemloco Images, while hanging from the black silk will be some of Sabella Fuss’ Six Foot Circus students.
Sabella said she had the idea of capturing circus skills within the outback landscapes for a while.
“All I needed was a photographer and an excuse," Sabella said.
Embracing the festival's aim of placing performance and artistic endeavours in non-traditional spaces, she pitched her idea to Virginia Hills of Jemloco Images.
"I'd been following Virginia's work for a while and she stood out as a photographer to work with on this project, as she clearly knew lots of great spots for taking beautiful shots using natural conditions and vantage points,” Sabella said.
“Thankfully, she loved the idea and so the Red Dust, Black Silk project was born.
Sabella said this was also about raising awareness and appreciation of contemporary circus arts.
“Which has nothing to do with performing animals and is all about celebrating the amazing things that the human body can do,” she said.
In keeping with the festival’s ethos, the Friday May 19 event will be held in the North West Gymnastics building.
The gymnastics building is a converted industrial shed.
Anywhere Theatre Festival founders, Paul Osuch and Alexandra McTavish are proud the Brisbane festival, established in 2011, has grown to be one of the “Top Nine Fine International Festivals” ( according to Qantas Travel Insider).
Mr Osuch said they were delighted it would go state-wide this year.
“We believe you don’t need a theatre to present theatre,” Mr Osuch said.
“And the last six years have proven the point, with more new works developed and presented to audiences in the three weeks of Anywhere Theatre Festival each year than in any custom-built theatre over an entire year.”
The event is free from 7pm, but bookings are appreciated for planning and catering purposes.
To book go to http://anywheretheatre.com/listings/red-dust/