360 Allstars

360 Allstars hits the Playhouse at the right time to provide perfect for-all-the-family entertainment to break up the school holidays. This is a nifty showcase of what could be considered traditional circus skills that involve the 360 degrees circle of the group's title – juggling, spinning, aerobatics, acro dance, balancing – as well as good old-fashioned buffoonery. At exactly an hour long, it's just the thing to keep easily distracted children and teens enthralled and parents entertained too. The concept is by musician Gene Peterson who directs as well as performing extraordinary drums and keyboards, creating live beats and loops that are processed electronically by Mistress of Ceremonies, Mirrah, at her DJ decks. These two are the backbone of the show, providing an energetic backing track for the entire hour.

The first showcase is BMX bike champ, Heru Anwari from Indonesia, who rides, manipulates, juggles and spins his bike expertly and amazingly. You don't have to be a BMX bandit to appreciate the athleticism on display. Next the duo of international Breakdancing champs, B-Boy Benny and B-Boy Fongo. They present their dance-off as characters in an retro-cool video game and it's highly entertaining. The kids in the audience near me knew all about these dancers (possibly because B-Boy Benny is a local lad from Brisbane) and were engaged with the performers for every minute of the challenge. Then world-class basketball freestyler Bavo Delbeke from Belgium. Bavo combines traditional juggling and spinning skills with the very on-trend basketball moves (as well as comedy) and was a big hit with the audience. Some of his tricks have to be seen to be believed – I mean, have you ever tried juggling five spinning basketballs? The final aerobatic master to take to the stage was Rowan Thomas, a world record holder for the Cyr Wheel – kind of like a giant hula hoop that the artist becomes one with, spinning like a huge coin or spinning disc. The other artists get involved, using the hoop as a fun mini-stage for their own beats and breaks, before balancing on the hoop for a group finale.  

At the end of the show Gene Peterson thanked all the team and backstage crew involved. His Onyx Productions have been producing these high-energy shows for more than 10 years, and I think this style of combined musical and skills showcase really is the future of circus performance for today's youth market. Peterson was especially grateful to the audience for turning out in such large numbers (the Playhouse was full) because he said this was the troupe's first performance in two years. And the energy and enthusiasm was palpable. I only have one criticism or request – and that would be to balance out the artists with a couple more female performers. There are so many talented acrobats and breakdancers available and surely there is a better mix to be found than six males and only one female. The audience absolutely loved this show, including the girls. Only one word of warning for parents with restless kids at home: the excitement of these energetic tricks and dance moves could be highly motivating. As we exited the theatre, I overheard one young boy say enthusiastically to his Mum: "That's what I want to do!" Mum's swift reply was: "Well, you can't! Can you breakdance? Can you play drums? Can you beatbox?" Oh well, plenty of skills to work on for the duration of the school break then, kids!

Beth Keehn

Photographer: Matt Loncar