Dancing on the roof

Day 3 in the house and the beds are becoming trampolines, the settee has doubled as a diving board and we’ve been dancing on the roof.

The neighbours are popping around with friendly smiles but are all looking a bit bemused. “What are you doing?”

“It’s a show, a circus theatre show based around The Pitt family Circus.”

“Here?”

“Yes” I nod and reassure them that there won’t be any lions and elephants moving in and that all will be revealed November 24-27.

Working with two of my favourite circus artists in Australia is a delight, I’ll say to Gareth can you throw Bronte through the window and they will say yes and she will suggest a slide over the kitchen table to finish. Magic.

I met Gareth, Bronte and their hilarious six year old son Gwynne about ten years ago. Well maybe not quite ten. We both work the festival, variety and street theatre circuits across the globe. There are a small number of clowns, fools, acrobats and musicians like us lucky enough to tour the world bringing their unique brand of silliness with them. I’ve now landed in Lismore which, as usual, is far from my home (I live in New Zealand) but for locals Gareth Bronte it’s a dream as they live just down the road. What I love about this project and working with NORPA is the collaborative feel, it’s so great when ideas are coming from everyone, the artists, designers, producers etc. My role as director becomes easy when the vision is shared. I just have to steer the bus, suggest the best route and not crash!

So come November get your tickets, jump on board the bus and join the party with The Pitt Family Circus in their new home.