The 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival sees the talented Circus Oz team return to the iconic Melbourne Town Hall for a short run of Non Stop. This follows on from a sold-out season at the Forum Melbourne in 2023.
Circus Oz has been a detail in the fabric of Australia’s arts scene since 1978, delighting audiences of all ages and types with their unique mix of acrobatics, rock music, and absurd circus acts. Director and co-devisor Nicci Wilks delivers a production that proves why they are an unstoppable force and among Australia’s best performers.
Non Stop sees the troupe return to the Melbourne Town Hall for the first time in 20 years. You wouldn’t be blamed for second-guessing the venue as an appropriate stage for a fully formed circus show, but a few minutes into Non Stop sees the performers transform it into their own Spiegeltent. The show twists and tumbles into action with a low-key acrobatics routine delivered with high impact execution. The audience gasps, wide-eyed, as feats of strength and flexibility take centre stage.
Then the beat drops. Enter two virtuosic musicians, cranking up the energy and setting the tone for what’s to come. They’re soon joined by the full, multigenerational troupe: Debra Batton, Leopold Pentland, Olivia Porter, Claire Bindoff, Angelique Ross, Chris Lewis and Griffin Hooper. Together, they hit every note: shock, joy, suspense, and delight, all in one whirlwind ensemble piece.
From there, it’s full throttle. The show builds like a rollercoaster, each act upping the ante with boldness and pizzazz. One moment it’s a heart-stopping daredevil stunt, the next it’s a laugh-out-loud bowling ball gag or a precision-perfect bow-and-arrow routine. It’s a thrilling mix of circus and cheeky comedy – perfect for the Comedy Festival.
There aren’t many flashy lighting cues; instead, the world of the show is shaped by sound. The music is nothing short of magical, conjuring whole landscapes via the live instruments. From flamenco fire to heavy metal riffs, they genre-hop with ease, switching instruments like it is a party trick. The musical talent is the unsung backbone of the show, and it deserves high praise.
There were a couple of small sound hiccups when microphones came into play, but that’s more a quirk of the Melbourne Town Hall than the show itself.
The closing segment sees each artist perform on the high flying trapeze, working as a team for some superhuman feats of talent. This section of the show draws the most gasps from the crowd. There’s nothing better than a finale that has everyone holding their breath and bursting into applause.
Circus Oz: Non Stop delivers exactly what it promises: jaw-dropping feats of strength, stellar live music, and a non-stop stream of “how-is-this-even-possible?” moments. It’s fun for the whole family. Don’t miss this strictly limited season before it hits regional Victoria and the bright lights of New York City.
Circus Oz: Non Stop runs until 20 April at the Main Hall, Melbourne Town Hall, 100 Swanston Street Melbourne as part of the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Tickets: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/circus-oz-non-stop
Website: https://circusoz.com/ and https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/circusoz/
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