By KATHRYN KERNOHAN
Who hasn’t threatened to “run off with the circus” in a moment of pique, when dissatisfied with work or life in general?
While not many of us actually follow through, those who have taken this leap of faith have helped create one of the country’s most successful arts organisations, Circus Oz.
Since it formed in 1977, hundreds of talented performers and behind-the-scenes staff have replaced their nine-to-five desk jobs with a life of high-flying trapeze thrills, international touring and the pressure of entertaining thousands of people.
Next month, it is set to pitch its tent in Dandenong for the first time for two full-length shows.
So is life all fun, games and death-defying stunts for those at Circus Oz?
Performer Jeremy Davies joined Circus Oz full-time in 2009 after almost 20 years of theatre work in Canberra and Melbourne.
The performer, whose act includes a “deliberately bad” magic routine, has toured extensively with the company, including multiple trips to the US and a month in Spain.
Being a performer has involved sacrifice – like “years of studying and training and a lot of part-time jobs to fund the training”. It’s all helped him to appreciate his job at Circus Oz more.
“I get to be a clown and be funny instead of being all serious and looking like a member of Cirque du Soleil,” he quips.
Although he admits to the occasional bout of homesickness when he’s away, Davies says the highs far outweigh the lows.
He particularly enjoys touring regional Australia – “we go back to the same places every three years or so and it can be a shock to see how much a town has built up in that time” – and his girlfriend’s job makes life on the road a little easier.
“She’s a travel agent who grew up in the circus, so she totally understands the touring lifestyle. Thanks to her job, she can fly to meet me every now and then, which is great.”
Circus Oz performs at Drum Theatre, Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, at 7.30pm on August 16-17. Bookings: 9771 6666.
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