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Roll up for Circus Oz in Parramatta

SYDNEYSIDERS will get the chance to enjoy Circus Oz’s latest mesmerising show Model Citizens when it comes to Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Square from January 2 to 28.

Model Citizens - Oz Circus Promo

AS a tumbling, hula hooping, juggling acrobat, nerves often go with the territory for performer Jake Silvestro.

But it is not the thought of broken bones or falling from a great height that makes the Circus Oz performer anxious, rather fear of a new comedy skit failing to make the audience laugh.

“Australians have such a great sense of humour that the standard is high,” he says.

While injuries are an unpleasant reality of his job, Silvestro says they are not something he spends too much time worrying about.

Model Citizens’ Peg slide. Picture: Rob Blackburn
Model Citizens’ Peg slide. Picture: Rob Blackburn

“You have to carry that fear, otherwise you can be arrogant and that’s when injuries can happen (but) you learn to take it on the chin,” he says.

Being surrounded by some of Australia’s most experienced circus performers also helps to put Silvestro at ease on stage.

“If you fall, usually someone will catch you,” he says. “When you have nine acrobats on stage, mistakes are bound to happen but nine out of 10 times the audience won’t even notice.”

Model Citizens’ Rose Jarred bridge. Picture: Rob Blackburn
Model Citizens’ Rose Jarred bridge. Picture: Rob Blackburn

Circus Oz have been successfully continuing to make jaws drop and audiences laugh with their latest show Model Citizens, which has been touring in regional NSW, Queensland and Melbourne throughout the year.

It will soon be Sydney’s turn to enjoy the mesmerising performance when it comes to Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Square from January 2 to 28.

Circus Oz's show Model Citizens in action. Pic: Rob Blackburn
Circus Oz's show Model Citizens in action. Pic: Rob Blackburn

Silvestro says the show’s setting of a model kit world allows them to explore new territory in their acrobatic acts, which include backflipping off a giant clothes peg, contorting through huge steaming irons, flying high on an oversized pair of aerial underwear and balancing on a house of giant credit cards.

“We were starting from scratch with a lot of the apparatuses that we’re using,” he says.

Circus Oz's show Model Citizens. Picture: Rob Blackburn
Circus Oz's show Model Citizens. Picture: Rob Blackburn

“We’ve got a couple of new acts in the show for the Sydney season — we’ve got some amazing foot juggling and some side show and stunt work.”

Model Citizens is a part of Circus City, which is returning to the Sydney Festival at Prince Alfred Square and Riverside Theatres.

Circus Oz's Spool trapeze. Picture: Rob Blackburn
Circus Oz's Spool trapeze. Picture: Rob Blackburn

Other acrobatic performances will include Gravity & Other Myths’ Backbone and Legs On The Wall’s free multi-level, outdoor trampoline playground show Highly Sprung. There will also be aerialize and flying trapeze workshops on from January 12-21.

WHAT: Sydney Festival’s Model Citizens

WHERE: Circus Oz Big Top at Prince Alfred Square, Parramatta

SEASON: January 2-28

TICKETS: sydneyfestival.org.au

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/roll-up-for-circus-oz-in-parramatta/news-story/cbcb3edec91fc7f9d5e058c96d0571fd