I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been a brilliant and intense couple of months down in Adelaide working with Strut & Fret on their new show Fear & Delight.

This is the first time I have worked with circus performers, though physical theatre is not new to me at all. And I have to say there is something so magical in the circus act, when an audience is engaged in the sheer awe of what humans can do with their bodies.

(And the Fear & Delight cast were pretty super-human!!!)

What was rather ambitious with this project was the multiple theatrical languages at play. And in particular engaging in a process where the music was central to the devising process, as we worked with The Correspondents and their repertoire of old and new sounds. The opportunity to work with contemporary dancer Anne-Caroline Boidin, again added another element of performance vocabulary into the mix.

During the process I was reminded of the importance of patterns in performance making, and how much satisfaction audiences get from identifying them themselves and being able to project their own meaning, to take away from the production.

Also, that some audiences don't want to experience a profound meaning or catharsis. And the challenge is creating a show that can exist as a thrilling ride on one level, but has the ability to take a deeper plunge for those who are willing.

But it was working with clown, Spencer Novich, that highlighted to me the importance of character, above story. Because this is why the audience ultimately cares.

The result was a production with a rich tapestry of elements that I am very much looking forward to revisiting for further development again soon.

This video below was made by cast member Michael Hottier. It's a behind the scenes look at the show and brimming with fond memories.

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FEAR & DELIGHT