Run away to the circus with Luke Taylor

As Circus Oz get ready for the 20 June premiere of From The Ground Up 2012, AussieTheatre’s Anne-Marie Peard has a chat with a new member of the troupe each week until opening. And there are double passes to give away!

Formed in Melbourne in 1978, Circus Oz has toured the world as a rock’n’roll, animal-free circus with shows filled with breathtaking agility, death-defying stunts, awe-inspiring acrobatics and irreverent comedy that’s always accompanied by a spectacular live band.

Luke Taylor is an acrobat, juggler and clown who joined the Flying Fruit Fly Circus when he was 12 and hasn’t left the circus since.

He toured internationally with the Fruit Flies, including a season on Broadway in The Gift, drove in a bus across the Nullarbor Plain with WA’s Lunar Circus and came to Melbourne as one of the first students at the National Institute of Circus Arts. He co-founded his own show called Caravan, which has appeared at many festivals, and appeared Circus Oz, Circa, Circus Risque and Throw Down.

What do you do in From The Ground Up?
A few tricks.

What was the first circus trick you learnt?
To balance a broom on my head.

What circus skill do you wish you had?
The ability to read minds.

What are you always up for?
A walk in the Blue Mountains.

When did you join Circus Oz?
2008.

What do you love about Circus Oz?
The freedom of expression.

Do you remember your first trip to the circus?
Yes. I was about 10 and I went and saw The Flying Fruit Fly Circus with my mum.

What’s your favourite post-show snack?
A banana.

Who do you love seeing in the audience?
Mum and Dad.

What’s your advice for people who want to run away to the circus?
Train hard, love pain.

What was your first circus performance?
At 12 I joined the Flying Fruit Fly Circus and did my first performance in Noriel Park in Albury.

How many suitcases do you tour with?
One.

When you’re touring, what can’t you leave home without?
My computer.

Where’s your favourite place to tour to?
Anywhere I haven’t been to yet.

Popcorn: sweet or savoury?
Savoury.

If you couldn’t be in the circus, what would you do?
Being a park ranger would be fun.

Are you scared of clowns?
No.

If you could teach Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott a circus trick, what would it be?
Julia basing Tony in standing on shoulders.

Thanks to Circus Oz, AussieTheatre is thrilled to run a ticket giveaway for From The Ground Up. A winner will be drawn each week for the next six weeks, so if you don’t win in week one, you’ll still be in the running for each subsequent draw!

Enter Competition