Gravity and Other Myths: the ultimate circus show

1. What does it take to get to your level of skill? Did you start training from a very young age?

All of us have been training in circus or gymnastics for over ten years, some starting as early as four years old. Although each of our journeys differ slightly, our average training history would look something like this: three to four sessions a week, each for three to four hours, for ten years, to create our foundation training. Once the company Gravity and Other Myths (GOM) was formed, the performers took on full-time training. Our full-time involvement is now split up into performing, training, and creating new shows.

2. Have you ever had any accidents on stage?

Yep, sure have! We have had to deal with a few injuries during the show. One of our artists broke his foot during an act and we had to change the finale completely on the fly! Another member dislocated his shoulder in the very first act. The show went on with some minor modifications. The cast have been working together for many years now and have a deep understanding of each other's roles. Luckily, this allows us to cover for one another when things don't go to plan.

3. How does the circus scene in Ireland compare to Australia?

This will be the first time our company has ever travelled to Ireland, making it difficult to compare the circus scenes. Europe, in general, has a very strong circus culture. We have found that circuses pop up in almost every city we tour to, and we always try to connect with them. We hope to have a chance to play with some local circus companies in Galway.

4. Describe a typical day in the life of an acrobatic performer?

A touring acrobat has various roles and activities to complete throughout a typical day. We often teach workshops to people of all ages and abilities. This is a great way to engage with the local community, and get a feel for the people and vibe of the city. Because we are often on the move and visiting new and exciting countries, we love to spend at least a couple of hours a day exploring the city and finding the funky things to do.

We recently spent a week off travelling around Mexico, doing handstands on top of ancient pyramids and acrobatic cliff jumping. So I guess an average day might look like this:

10am-12pm: exploring

1pm-3pm: workshop

5pm-7pm: warm up and preparation for the show

7pm-8pm: performance

5. Do you feel extra pressure performing so close to the audience?

When we conceived the idea for “A Simple Space” the thought definitely crossed our mind. It is an incredible feeling being able to reach out and literally touch the audience. Even better still, for those extra hot and sweaty shows, you can see the sweat fling from the artists’ bodies to land within inches of the audience. We always have a safety factor built in to our routines that allows just enough space for us to fall - without landing on the audience!

6. Are you looking forward to performing in Galway?

Most definitely! Galway International Arts Festival is extremely highly regarded in the arts world. It is an absolute honour to have been invited to come and be involved.

7. What should we expect from your performance at this year’s Galway International Arts Festival?

A Simple Space isn’t your normal circus show; we don’t have fancy costumes, no sequins or makeup or crazy characters. The show is acrobatics pushed to the limits. You can expect to see the sweat, hear the breathing and feel the energy on stage. It’s intimate and exciting. It’s acrobatics up close and personal.