BACKBONE
Gravity & Other Myths (Australia)

14-17 March 2019
ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre
www.aaf.co.nz

The collective is perfectly named and witnessing them in action will have you scooping your jaw off the floor so often that by about halftime you'll think, screw it, it can stay down there. – themusic.com.au

In less than a decade, Adelaide-based acrobatic company Gravity & Other Myths has rocketed to stellar acclaim across the world, with a number of disarming and accomplished circuses. They will be making their debut in Tāmaki Makaurau as part of the 2019 Auckland Arts Festival in March with their latest sensation, Backbone.

After completing an eight-month world tour in 2018, and following recent performances at the Cirque Noel Festival in Graz, Austria, Backbone is a circus which goes straight for the jugular and leaves no viewer – whether young, old or in-between – unmoved.

Elegantly staged, Backbone is a celebration of human connectedness and a study of strength. Sexy but sincere, raw yet utterly disciplined, conceptually brilliant and awesomely athletic, Backbone is proof that performers can’t do the impossible without a little elbow grease and a lot of sweat.

Gravity & Other Myths is an internationally renowned circus company which pushes the boundaries of contemporary circus. Formed in Adelaide in 2009, their honest approach to performance creates shows which focus on human connection and acrobatic virtuosity.

Backbone is directed by Darcy Grant who is a graduate of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, the company who brought their marvellous kids’ show JUNK to the 2018 Auckland Arts Festival. He is also a founding member of Brisbane’s famous circus company C!rca.

Gravity & Other Myths are Australia’s longest performing  circus ensemble. They know and trust each other intently, which is excellent given they spend most of the show tumbling, somersaulting and flying, in multi-person towers, as human skipping ropes and in other immensely and collaboratively treacherous situations.

Auckland Arts Festival Artistic Director, Jonathan Bielski says, “Backbone is a masterpiece of modern circus. I thought I’d seen everything there was to see until I went to this. It’s not just for families, kids, and circus and theatre-lovers, Backbone is a show for thrill-seekers.”

“Circus, as you’ve never seen it before.”

– InDaily

Backbone
Gravity & Other Myths

DATES
14-17 March, 2019

CREATIVES
Ensemble: Jacob Randell, Jascha Boyce, Lachlan Binns, Mieke Lizotte, Lewie West, Martin Schreiber, Joanne Curry, Lachlan Harper, Lewis Rankin, Jackson Manson
Composers/Musicians: Elliot Zoerner and Shenton Gregory
Director: Darcy Grant
Set and Lighting Designer: Geoff Cobham
Producer: Craig Harrison
Creative Associate: Triton Tunis-Mitchell

TICKETS
Premium $69
A Reserve Full $59 Concession $53 Child $39
B Reserve Full $49 Concession $43 Child $31
C Reserve Full $ 39 Child $22
Recommended for ages 8+                         

LOCATION
ASB Theatre, Aotea Square

BOOKINGS
www.aaf.co.nz

DURATION
1hr 20 mins no interval

REVIEWS
“Magnetic world premiere, a perfect combination of fluidity, mettle and danger … The sheer strength of body and character needed to round out this frenzied performance demonstrates a discipline and camaraderie, rarely seen on stage. Simply a joy to watch.” – Limelight Magazine

“Circus, as you’ve never seen it before, pushed to its conceptual and cerebral limits. A genre-defying, thought-provoking, visual extravaganza … so intensely beautiful it makes you proud to be human.” – InDaily

“A glorious flow of action and reaction … The acrobatics are eloquent and sensational, full of original twists.” -  The Advertiser

“A complex performance that wouldn’t be out of place on the world stage.” – The Adelaide Review

“The performers’ agility and stamina are beyond impressive. The trust they must have in each other and their absolute focus and understanding of limits is nothing short of spectacular. This is a new kind of circus.” – The Barefoot Review

HELPMANN AWARD NOMINATIONS:
Best New Australian Work
Best Choreography
Best Lighting Design

RUBY AWARD NOMINATION:
Excellence in Innovation

AUSTRALIAN DANCE AWARD WINNER:
Outstanding Achievement in Physical Theatre