Sydney Opera House To A School In Hull – Circus Makes Yorkshire Debut

An award-winning contemporary circus troupe is set to perform at a school in Hull, fresh from a run at Sydney Opera House.

Brisbane-based Circus company Casus will be making their Yorkshire debut at Hymers College during Back To Ours this half term. Their show Driftwood promises to be a spectacular display of choreography, acrobatics, trapeze and aerial stunts.

Despite wowing audiences all over the world – last year alone they performed to more than 45,000 people in eight countries – this will be Casus’ first time in God’s Own Country.

Natano Fa’anana, Creative Producer and Co-Founder of Casus Circus, said: “The usual venues we perform in are black box theatres or Spiegeltents. But often we perform in beautiful old theatres of the Italian design especially when touring France or Germany.

“This will be the first time Driftwood has been performed in a school. It will offer a unique experience. Performing in one of Australia’s most revered theatre spaces, Sydney Opera House, was a special moment but we equally value and rate any other theatre we perform in. The energy of the audience is unique to each city and venue. With this energy we create a special moment specific to only that place

“We’re really excited to be coming to Hull. We love the concept of Back To Ours. We believe art should be accessible to everyone regardless of class, culture or demographic and a festival dedicated to taking the arts out to neighbourhoods is awesome.”

So what can the people of Hull expect?

“You’ll witness high end acrobatics on the ground, in the air, on a pole, upside down”, continues Natano. “This all delivered with joy and intimacy. After all this is a show about the relationships with the five people on stage who love and care for each other.”

Hymers College is no stranger to circus, having hosted Upswing last year, who performed Bedtime Stories, an award-winning mix of circus, theatre, dance and projections. But with everything from an awe-inspiring headstand on a swinging trapeze to a beautiful aerial rope sequence, Driftwood will be the school’s most ambitious show to date.

Hymers College Headteacher David Elstone said: “We are delighted to be working, once again, with the Back To Ours team. The College has hosted a range of diverse events and individual performance from a drag king rendition of Joan of Arc to a madcap retelling of the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. This half term we are looking forward to welcoming Australia’s dynamic circus company Casus, who will be performing in our theatre which will be transformed in to a big top.”

Originally produced during Hull UK City of Culture 2017 to ensure everybody across the city was able to be part of Hull’s special year, Back To Ours now falls under the remit of Creative People and Places. Funded by Arts Council England and managed by Goodwin Development Trust.

The festival, which is now on its fifth circuit, continues to be programmed by Louise Yates, former Hull 2017 Producer and now Back To Ours Director, in partnership with the venues: Freedom Centre, Hymers College, North Point Shopping Centre, William Gemmell Club, Winifred Holtby Academy and, new for this season, North Bransholme Community Centre, St Aidan’s Church, The Avenue Centre, and The Octagon.

Louise said: “Hull 2017 was an incredible, unique year for the city which did so much for our communities but it was only the beginning. We’re excited about what’s in store this year but we must all now work together to build on last year’s success and find a level of sustainability. It’s not only cultural organisations who have a role to play but artists, businesses, the council and other non-cultural organisations to work together and with our communities to help nurture the wonderful impact of 2017.”

Catch Driftwood at Hymers College from Thursday 31 May until Sunday 3 June. Tickets cost £2.50 – £7.50 and are available from www.hullboxoffice.com.