Seven Acrobats Thumb Their Noses at the Rules of Gravity

A Simple Space, performed by Australia’s Gravity & Other Myths, is an awe-inspiring display of strength, skill and creativity.

Irvine Barclay Theatre 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine CA www.thebarclay.org | 949.854.4646

A Simple SpaceTuesday, October 27, 2015 @ 7:30 PM PreviewThursday, October 29, 2015 @ 7:30 PMFriday, October 30, 2015 @ 7:30 PMSaturday, October 31, 2015 @ 2:00 PMSaturday, October 31, 2015 @ 7:30 PMTickets: Preview Oct 27: $30, $35 | Oct 29-31: $40, $45

An audience favorite at the 2014 Complètement Cirque festival in Montreal, these Australian artists shine with personality. Set on a stage within our stage, the title of this show says it all. An intimate audience of less than 200 surrounds a stripped-bare stage for an acrobatic display of strength, skill and creativity accompanied by driving live percussion. It’s fast-paced physical theater that is up-close and personal, immersing the audience in every thrilling, and sometimes dangerous moment.

REVIEWS

“Mind‐blowing physical theatre.” - Talk Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe Festival

“Be prepared to have your breath taken away.” - Three Weeks, Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Time Out, London | The Guardian | BroadwayBaby | Express.co.uk | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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ABOUT A SIMPLE SPACESimultaneously raw, frantic and delicate, seven skilled acrobats push their physical limits without reserve. Supported by driving percussion, A Simple Space evokes real responses in audiences − visceral rather than cerebral. There’s no fine‐tuning of performances with make‐up, lighting and contrived theatrical overlay. Sitting close to a stripped-back stage, the audience feels the heat, sees the sweat and hears every breath. Armed with nothing more than brute strength and cat‐like agility, these acrobats break down their usual guards, introducing the reality of possible failure and weakness. With nothing left to hide behind, personal narratives shine through. This honesty is the essence of A Simple Space.

ABOUT GRAVITY & OTHER MYTHSGravity & Other Myths (GOM) is a multi-award-winning and well-respected acrobatics ensemble from Adelaide, South Australia. The company creates engaging works of acrobatic art for touring, festivals and corporate clients. Formed in 2009 in Adelaide, South Australia, the company creates and directs its own work with an emphasis on an honest approach to performance. Moving away from traditional circus and theater models, the company aims for a fusion of simple, effective acrobatic physical theater.

Gravity & Other Myths has created a sterling international reputation with its work, A Simple Space, touring internationally since its inception in 2013. In 2015, the company has toured with A Simple Space throughout the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada, Argentina, New Zealand and the U.S.

In September, GOM received the 2015 Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Physical Theatre.

ACROBATS

Lachlan Binns trained at Cirkidz, a youth circus school from 2004 to 2009. He attended two National Training Projects at the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, a similar project with Circus Oz and participated in numerous Australian National Circus Festivals. In 2009, Lachlan performed as the mascot for the Port Adelaide Football Club. He performs regularly with the entertainment group, Slack Taxi. Teaching credits include: Cirkidz, Flinders University Drama Centre, Adelaide College of the Arts Dance Program and the National Circus Festival (2011/2013). Lachlan is a founding member of Gravity & Other Myths.

Jascha Boyce began circus training at the age of four at Cirkidz in Adelaide, South Australia. After ten years of training as an instructor and performer, she co-founded Gravity & Other Myths. She gained additional training at Circus Oz, The Flying Fruit Fly Circus and numerous National Circus Festivals. Teaching credits include: Cirkidz, Flinders University Drama Centre and the Adelaide College of the Arts Dance Program. Performance credits include: multiple seasons with Leigh Warren’s production of Maria De Buenos Aires. In 2010, she participated in the CYAB JUMP Mentoring Program, creating a solo work, Specimens of Her.

Rhiannon Cave-Walker trained until the age of 18 at Spaghetti Circus. She had further training opportunities at National Circus Festivals, The London International Youth Circus Festival (2010) and at Dans och Cirkushögskolan (DOCH) in Stockholm, Sweden from 2011 to 2014. Major performance credits include: the 2012 London Olympics Exhibition Road Show and the Glastonbury Festival. Rhiannon joined Gravity & Other Myths in 2014 for A Simple Space Tour.

Daniel Liddiard started his acrobatic career in England at the age of seven, competing at a national level as a flyer in acrobatic gymnastics. At the age of 16, Daniel began training in pair acrobatics and hand balancing at Circomedia, one of England's top circus schools. After two years of studies, he went to Dans och Cirkushögskolan (DOCH), a prestigious circus university in Sweden. Daniel joined Gravity & Other Myths in 2014 for A Simple Space tour.

Simon McClure started down his acrobatic path at the age of 10 and joined the Flying Fruit Fly Circus (FFFC) in Albury, New South Wales, Australia. After seven years of training, he went on tour as a technician with the company, Acrobat, while also teaching acrobatics at the FFFC. Simon had performed in a number of acts in a variety of cabaret settings before joining Gravity & Other Myths in 2014, specializing in tumbling and group acrobatics.

Jacob Randell joined the Cirkidz Performance Troupe at a young age and gained experience in training and performance through multiple productions as a junior performer. Jacob gained further experience with projects at The Flying Fruit Fly Circus and the National Circus Festivals. Jacob is a founding member of Gravity & Other Myths.

Martin Schreiber has been involved in the circus community for most of his life; first as a junior performer with Cirkidz Performing Troupe and progressing to his schedule of current national and international touring as a founding member of Gravity & Other Myths. Additional training has been gained with short projects at The Flying Fruit Fly Circus and numerous National Circus Festivals. Other professional credits include roles in Moby Dick, a production of the State Opera of South Australia; and Freaky, a Cirkidz/Circus Monoxide collaboration.

Triton Tunis-Mitchell began training in 1985 in Adelaide and is a stalwart of the Australian circus community. He has been performing and teaching circus arts for the better part of 30 years, engaging with communities and professionals across Australia. Acrobatic credits include: roles in Moby Dick, a production oftheState Opera of South Australia; Return to the Trees by No Strings Attached company; and Freaky, a Cirkidz/Circus Monoxide collaboration; as well as countless acrobatic performances with Slack Taxi, Hand 2 Hand Acrobats and Knee High Puppeteers. He has completed additional training with Circus Oz, Circa, The Flying Fruit Fly Circus and numerous National Circus Festivals. Teaching credits include: Cirkidz Youth Circus School, Circa, Tanks Arts Cairns, Flinders University Drama Centre and the Adelaide College of the Arts Dance Program. As a founding member of Gravity & Other Myths in 2009, he has developed widely acclaimed work and has taken his unique style of physical theater and acrobatics to the world stage.

MUSICIAN

Elliot Zoerner.Since taking up the drums at age 11, Elliot has played with a wide variety of musical groups in Australia.  He studied classical percussion at the Elder Conservatorium, where he performed with the Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra and the Percussion Ensemble. Credits include: John Reynolds Raiders Drum Corp, Kensington & Norwood Brass Band, various rock, indie and blues bands and many musical productions. Elliot joined Gravity and Other Myths in 2011 with a rework of the show, Freefall. Since then, he has worked closely with the company in both creation and production. In early 2014, he released his debut EP, Sirins.