Creative couple and circus performers from ARC Circus, Robbie and Lizzie, are usually completely in sync. Except in their new work – Court Games – where they play twins battling it out to compete for the crown! They’ve been in residence at HOTA developing a 20min version of the show through our HOTA Housemates program, that supports local artists to create new work. We asked them how it’s going.
Twins,
Both alike in dignity,
In faraway kingdom where we lay our scene,
The King and Queen are dead,
And the twins must compete for the crown…
The victor will be pronounced the ruler of the Kingdom,
The People, YOU, will decide. Who will you choose?
What has inspired Court Games?
At ARC we are in the business of creating and celebrating important stories and telling them through the power of circus dance and theatre. In Court Games we are interested in exploring two themes: the importance of siblings learning to share, as well as democracy vs a monarchy. We are exploring these themes through a joyful sibling rivalry, and creating a democratic election during the show and asking the audience who they would like as their next leader! We are attempting to do this through incredible circus skills.
This is your third two-hander circus comedy work for families (HOTA audiences may know you best for your past works A Bee Story and A Bee Story 2). What’s new for you in this work?
Court Games will be highly interactive, with the audience taking sides for their favourite twin. The show will also be jam packed full of circus, with amazing juggling acts, glass balancing acts, strength tests, and unicycling skipping competitions. Have you seen someone juggling 8 balls, or skip on a 7-foot unicycle, or play a flute while standing on someone’s head? If not, Court Games is for you!
What’s the next step for the work once you’ve performed the 20min version at SWELL Sculpture Festival in September?
We hope to perform a season of Court Games as a full 50-minute family and kids work sometime in 2025. Knowing us it will probably be earlier rather than later, so stayed tuned for the Battle Royale to begin!
See ARC Circus perform the 20min version of Court Games at SWELL Sculpture Festival from 6-18 September and keep an eye out for the full-length work in the future!
Images by Leximagery.
The development of Court Games has been proudly supported by HOTA, Home of the Arts.
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