Circus Oz crashes out after members reject reform

Once a favourite with audiences, Circus Oz faced declining attendance and financial strife and will now shut down.

Acrobats performing in the Circus Oz show, Wunderage. Picture: Aaron Walker

Long-running acrobatic troupe Circus Oz, once a favourite with audiences around Australia, has spectacularly voted itself out of existence after members refused the demands of funding bodies to restructure.

Rather than relinquish control to a skills-based governing board, members voted “overwhelmingly” on Wednesday to reject reforms required by the Australia Council and Creative Victoria.

Without government funding worth about $2.6m a year, Circus Oz will be forced to close, and will likely give its last performances next month, if it is not wound up before.

While Circus Oz has been in trouble for several years – the Australia Council put it on “fair notice” in 2018 – news of its ­demise on Friday provoked shock and anger.

Circus artist Mitch Jones, 34, an artistic fellow with Circus Oz, said he was furious that company members had “taken their ball and bat” and opted to shut down the company. “I think it’s appallingly selfish that a decision of this magnitude should be taken on the basis of political symbolism,” Jones said.

“The result of this decision will be millions of dollars of lost ­opportunities, resources, support and funding for young artists in a vital part of the Melbourne arts ecology.”

Circus Oz has about 100 members, mostly former employees of the company.

Mike McCreadie, a member of the Circus Oz board and its treasurer, said he was disappointed that members had elected not to update the company’s governance model, as the funding partners required.

“They pride themselves on being funny, irreverent, and controlling the artistic content,” he said.

“They see Circus Oz as their baby. To give up a sense of control was just a step too far.”

Founded in 1977, Circus Oz was a genre-defining group that, along with Canada’s Cirque du Soleil, helped establish the modern style of animal-free circus.

But the company had lost its edge in recent years and other groups, such as Circa in Brisbane, were seen to be more innovative and appealing to audiences.

The Australian’s Margin Call business column reported on Wednesday that time was running out for Circus Oz, and that funding was only secured until the end of the year.