Flipside Circus wins two 2018 Matilda Awards for its Show We Live Here about Hummingbird House

A circus show about a children’s hospice, described as “one of those divine experiences in the theatre”, has earned Flipside Circus wins in two categories at the 2018 Matilda Awards.

Flipside Circus' production We Live Here about Hummingbird House won two 2018 Matilda Awards

Flipside Circus has won two of the three categories it was nominated for at the 2018 Matilda Awards.

And debase productions, which is also based at Alderley, also scored an award at Monday night’s ceremony.

Flipside, along with Metro Arts, won the Best Circus or Physical Theatre Work category for We Live Here, the story of the people of children’s hospice Hummingbird House.

The Matilda judges hailed it as “a unique collaboration of physical theatre, circus and recorded verbatim stories” that was an “intricately nuanced production” that utilised a strong ensemble, excellent skills base, transformative design, stunning direction and detailed, touching performances.

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“For many, this work offered one of those divine experiences in the theatre – where an inexplicable moment in time and space lands with such emotional resonance that it transcends all language as a way of connecting us to each other,” the judges said.

Flipside Circus performers and creatives with their awards at the 2018 Matilda Awards on Monday night. l-r Mia Hughes, Luke Whitefield, Indra Garvey (top), Natano Fa'anana, Jo Thomas, Robert Kronk, Fiona Hawthorne and Bridget Boyle

Natano Fa’anana and Bridget Boyle won Best Director for their work on the show, with judges describing it as “elegant and nuanced”.

They created an “incredibly strong visual narrative that seamlessly combined forms of circus and recorded narration to portray real stories”.

debase productions won the Gold Matilda award for its 20-year record of theatre excellence, national and international touring, and its use of comedy to address social issues in a way that was in tune with its target audience.