“People in Perth are up for a bit of silliness, they understand the ridiculousness of our show.”
The jet-set troupe of vaudevillian circus performers have been finding new fans around the globe but declare Perth’s ‘Fringe World’ one of their favourite stops on their never-ending tour.
Last year the performers arrived at the start of Fringe World to find their entire season was sold out, so great was the word-of-mouth from their previous trips. The group’s leader Fez Faanana told OUTinPerth there is something special about Perth audiences.
“People in Perth are up for a bit of silliness, they understand the ridiculousness of our show.” Faanana said.
The all-male show which combines elements of drag, circus and burlesque is always a riotous affair. They started life as a late night event in a Brisbane speak-easy before developing their work into a full scale show.
The show brings together ringleader Faanana’s drag alter-ego Shivannah, Mark ‘Captain Kidd’ Winmill, Australia’s star of boylesque, performance artist Dallas Delaforce, acrobatic burlesque performer – Evil Hate Monkey, trapeze artist Louis Briggs and Thomas Worrell who specializes in ariel hoop, contortion and hand balancing.
Since they last hoisted up their circus tent and threw their crazy party filled with shenanigans in Perth, they boys have been to Adelaide, Berlin, Paris and London and even took their show to The Seychelles. They’ve done shows in Trafalgar Square for London Pride and even played the massive Glastonbury music festival.
Faanana says there are some advantages to performing in warmer locations like Perth and tropical islands.
“It’s easier to warm up, but it’s such a point of contention amongst the cast.” Faanana said, “We’re always arguing about the temperature of the theatre, it can’t be too hot or the drag queens lose their lashes, but it can’t be too cold where the acrobats get stiff.”
The show has gathered such a great reputation over the last few years that now many up and coming circus performers aspire to join their ranks. Faanana said the performers in the show needed a mix of skills and attitude.
‘We get lots of requests from performers who want to join the show, with Briefs – the all-male circus, burlesque, drag production – I think it’s about being a highly skilled performer but you also have to be clever about how you present your work.
‘Aside from what we do onstage being part of our team is also about your attitude off stage. It’s about how we operate as a company, I always say to new boys who come onboard, ‘we try to adopt the principle of being gentlemen’; of being good human beings.”
Faanana said the cast embraced the long standing spirit of circus, variety and cabaret by keeping their feet on the ground.
“You’ve got to keep your feet on the ground and remember what it is you do as an artist. It’s about celebrating the freak and the alternative, embracing a different lifestyle.” Faanana said. “We’re always about celebrating diversity with skill”.
Grab your tickets to Briefs main show and their late night club show at www.fringeworld.com.au. The show opens on February 2nd for 10 performances only.
Graeme Watson
