Living the dream: Robbie Curtis brings dynamic new solo circus to Fringe World

After starring in performances for Cirque du Soleil, Circus Oz, Australian Ballet, and more, acrobat and dancer Robbie Curtis took the ultimate leap of faith when he started his own performing arts company, Arc Circus Co., in 2020. Now, after bringing successful shows like A Bee Story, In the Arms of Morpheus, and more to Perth in the past few years, Curtis is bringing his dynamic new solo circus performance, The Dreamer, to Fringe World this summer, showing at The Gold Digger at The Pleasure Garden from Tuesday, January 30 to Sunday, February 4, 2024. BRAYDEN EDWARDS  caught up with Robbie Curtis to find out how he went through with his childhood dream of running away to the circus and why it’s a dream that continues to define and inspire him.

It’s great to have you back in Perth with this new show, The Dreamer! How is this show different from anything you have done before?

The Dreamer is a very unique work. The main difference is that the work is a solo piece. It’s similar to other Arc shows in that it is stuffed full of incredible and dynamic circus, and it tells an important story through a joyous, comedic, and magical lens. Being a solo piece though, is the biggest difference for the company. It really is a showcase of my 15 years of professional work, performing with some of the biggest companies around the world. We are so proud of the work and excited to bring it to Perth.

You’ve taken your shows to a lot of stages and festivals across the world. What’s something you particularly enjoy about Fringe World in Perth?

We love Perth and Fringe World as its audience is loyal, excited, and generous. I believe the audience in Perth is ready to be pushed, dazzled, and hypnotised with new and exciting work. I can’t tell you how excited we are to bring our work to the festival.

Performing a blend of circus, dance, and magic, you must juggle a lot of different skills! Do you recall what made you want to be a performer in the first instance, and what were your first steps towards this lifelong passion?

I found my passion when my dad taught me how to juggle when I was very young. I then fell in love with acrobatics and dance. The way physicality can communicate has always excited me. I have always felt so lucky that I have found my passion in life — to develop my circus skills and share them with the world.

I have found myself being addicted to learning new skills and just love throwing myself into a creative space. I’ve had such a diverse career, from walking high wires above cities to dancing with the Australian Ballet at the Opera House and tumbling with Cirque du Soleil. I can’t wait to share some of my skills in The Dreamer.

Who were your biggest inspirations back then? And how about now?

When I was young, my major inspirations were movies like Bootman, Singing in the Rain, and any Charlie Chaplin movie, as well as shows by Cirque du Soleil, Circus Oz, and any and every traditional circus that came through the small town I grew up in. I loved all physical expressions. The way stories can be elevated through physical and creative movement has always excited me.

Now my major inspiration is Cirque du Soleil and artists like James Thiérrée, Pina Bausch, and Lloyd Newson. I love bold artistic visions and artists not shying away from telling and expressing big ideas through big movements.

You have previously been part of big circuses like Cirque du Soleil, Circa, and Circus Oz, but now you have started your own one, Arc Circus Co. How is Arc different from other circuses, and what made you want to go in this direction?

Arc is incredibly unique because it not only has incredible physicality at its heart, but it also tells important stories. We are also pushed by the idea of creating work that is “high art, but not highbrow.” Our work is for everyone. We want to communicate with our work, and we do this through narrative. In The Dreamer, the audience will not only be amazed at the physical skills; they will also be taken on a journey where they might even question their own reality at the end of the show!

I’ve heard that ‘anything and everything’ is possible with this show, so what’s something we might experience at your show that won’t anywhere else?

The Dreamer has some world-class acrobatics in it. You’ll see the only Australian to perform eight juggling balls on stage. Our dreamer swings from the chandelier and achieves mind-bending contortions; he is seduced by a broom, becomes a sporting star, and gets caught on the high seas — everything is magic, which is delightful and at times terrifying. Is it a dream, or is it the madness of insomnia, or maybe both?

What’s next for you and Arc Circus Co.? Will you take this show to other cities, or is there something new in the works to look forward to?

We are so excited, as we have a huge year planned for 2024. We start the year with our largest work, Living Sculptures: How the Birds Got Their Colours, performing at Sydney Festival across a series of iconic locations, including Bondi Beach, in front of the Opera House, and more.

We then have a bunch of touring nationally and internationally. We are hoping that 2024 brings the company back to Perth, so please stay tuned to the company’s movements, sign up to our newsletter at www.arccircus.com, or follow us on social media at Arc Circus.