By now, you probably think you've seen all circus has to offer, right? But have you ever seen a culturally adventurous, genre-defying narrative performance work that melds circus with contemporary dance and visual theatre from Vietnam? We thought not.
À Ố Làng Phố is directed by Tuấn Lê, who formerly worked for Cirque du Soleil. But unlike the lavishly appointed big tops where Cirque du Soleil performs, things are stripped right back in this circus. It's performed by a cast of some of Vietnam's most talented acrobats on a set that's constructed entirely of bamboo and rattan, which comes to life to tell a story of urbanisation. In fact the title translates loosely to "from village to city".
The show is set to an unusual soundtrack that melds traditional Vietnamese music with hip-hop, performed by five musicians, while 15 acrobats perform aerial work, contortion and juggling. It's suitable for audiences over seven and is having its Melbourne premiere at Arts Centre Melbourne from February 27 to 29 as part of Asia TOPA.