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Spiegelworld has turned circus on its head with its hit production Empire, a show which combines elements of circus, cabaret, vaudeville, acrobatics and burlesque.
‘‘It is all of that,’’ says American star Jonathan Taylor, who features as one of two MCs in the show.
‘‘It’s the highest level of circus skills you can imagine with a very sexy twist put on it and definitely some burlesque.
‘‘It’s an adult show, it’s a naughty show. Some people will walk away from it going ‘Ooh that was naughty and fun’ and other people will walk away going ‘That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen’.
‘‘I think that’s part of the reason for the success it’s had.’’
Set in a 700-seat antique spiegeltent, the show debuted in New York City’s Times Square last year. Critics praised the show, with The New York Times describing it as ‘‘Cirque du Soleil as channelled through The Rocky Horror Picture Show’’.
In January, Empire arrived in Australia, where it has played to audiences in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra, with most cities adding extra shows due to the success of the production.
Strong advance tickets sales have already prompted the two-week extension of the Newcastle season, which will be held in the European-style spiegeltent set up in Wheeler Place (next to Civic Theatre) from November 14.
The renovated spiegeltent is complete with bevelled mirrors, velvet-upholstered seating booths, a speak-easy style bar and a small stage in the middle of the intimate setting which ensures an up-close-and-personal view of the performers.
The 90-minute show features musical, comical, acrobatic and daredevil acts, with each of the performers hand-picked from all over the world, including some who have worked with Cirque du Soleil, while others are former world champion gymnasts and acrobatics performers.
‘‘The actual circus skills are quite astounding and because the audience is so close – all of the rows are put as close to possible to the action – you’re able to see the circus skill closer than you’ve ever seen.
‘‘It’s incredibly intimate. If you’re in the front row, you feel like you’re on stage.’’
Empire is produced by Ross Mollison
(Tap Dogs, Absinthe) who assembled a creative team mostly comprising Australians to create the show including director Terence O’Connell, acclaimed choreographer John O’Connell – whose work includes Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom and The Great Gatsby – and costume designer Angus Strathie, who won an Oscar for his work on Moulin Rouge.
Mollison searched the globe for his cast of 16 performers, including Taylor, who he first discovered several years ago in Los Angeles.
Taylor’s career began more than 20 years ago learning classic clowning with Ringling Bros Clown College.
He went on to work as a street performer for several years in the US, Europe and Australia before making his off-Broadway debut as a Blue Man in Blue Man Group for eight years.
In Empire, Taylor stars as Oscar the Impresario – the MC and vaudeville-style host of the show, alongside Fanny (played by Anne Goldman, who also happens to be his wife).
The couple, who have been together for 16 years and performed together around the world, steer the show alongside an eccentric cast of characters.
These include the Gorilla Girls from Ukraine who form perfectly balanced pyramids on top of each other and the Ethiopian foot juggler Black Flintstone who throws and catches his brother Big Mac Boy on his feet.
Others include the Half Naked Asian Dude Wearing Pigtails from Japan, who is the world champion wheelmaster, and Russian acrobat Miss A in a Bubble, who contorts inside an aerial sphere.
‘‘The theme of the show is it’s a New York-centric vibe and especially, at least for our characters, the inspiration is Broadway with the Ziegfeld Follies, you know, the ’20s and ’30s, kind of an older New York.’’
Empire At Spiegelworld opens at Wheeler Place on November 14. Tickets available from $59. Bookings online at ticketek.com.au or by phoning 49291977.
![POP: Russian acrobat Miss A in a Bubble, who contorts inside an aerial sphere, is part of Spiegelworld circus’s show. POP: Russian acrobat Miss A in a Bubble, who contorts inside an aerial sphere, is part of Spiegelworld circus’s show.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3ZMaZUzN3dKuM6vrzTJmtN/c845e8c4-67c3-4617-89c4-5e5adbcb7484.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)