Circus show about Hummingbird House puts Flipside Circus in the running for three 2019 Matilda Awards
A circus show telling stories about a children’s hospice has been nominated in three categories in Queensland’s theatre awards for excellence.
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Alderley’s Flipside Circus has been nominated in three categories of this year’s Matilda Awards for its critically-acclaimed production We Live Here.
It is in the running for best independent production, best director and best circus or physical theatre work in Queensland’s theatre awards for excellence.
We Live Here, commissioned by Metro Arts, tells the stories of young people and their families from Hummingbird House - Queensland’s only hospice for children and young people.
It featured two adult performers - Amy Stuart and Skip Walker-Milne – and three young performers - Mia Hughes (17), Luke Whitefield and Indra Garvey (both 13).
They performed to a soundtrack featuring the voices of Hummingbird House patients, their parents, staff and its supporters.
Flipside Circus chief executive officer and creative producer Robert Kronk said while it was a really interesting story to tell it was also a very challenging one.
Mr Kronk, who created the production from a concept by Jo Thomas, said circus allowed stories to be turned into movement.
“This is a really difficult topic and because it’s not literal (as a play would be) you can take stories and turn them into something else,” he said.
“It gives them distance.
“Circus, a lot like dance, is good at taking a moment and exploding it out and playing with it.”
The result, he said, was “joyous and moving”.
Hummingbird House, Mr Kronk said, “tries really hard to be a happy place”.
“It is about making memories and making the most of moments.
“We wanted to make sure we honoured the stories people shared with us.
“Hummingbird House was amazing. We loved working with them.”
Flipside Circus previewed parts of the show for people at Hummingbird House to get feedback before the show premiered at Metro Arts in November.
Flipside hopes We Live Here will be back on stage later this year.
The Matilda Awards are on February 18.
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