Big Top, Prince Alfred Square, Parramatta
January 6 matinee, 2018

Model Citizens is the first show created by Circus Oz’s new Artistic Director Rob Tannion, who joined the Company early in 2016 – and it’s an auspicious beginning. Created shortly after his arrival, the show has toured extensively and now arrives in Parramatta as part of Sydney Festival.

Cast members of Model Citizens performing in Parramatta. Photograph © Jamie Williams

Tannion trained in Australia as a dancer, then lived in Europe for two decades where he performed with companies including Lloyd Newson’s internationally renowned DV8 Physical Theatre in the UK. Not surprisingly, Model Citizens is a more tightly choreographed piece than is usual for Circus Oz. It also has a slicker, less ratbag look than past productions though it retains the knockabout quality for which the Company is so loved.

Using a loose theme around Australian identity, conformity, acceptance of difference and tolerance, Model Citizens begins with the performers moving like automatons in uniform blue. The one dissenter – Mitch Jones (aka Captain Ruin) – who is tattooed and sporting a hot pink Mohawk and vibrantly coloured Lycra, is quickly forced to don...