‘Urban Circus’ is a love letter to the thrilling acrobatics of big city life. A talented troupe of Johannesburg’s hottest circus artistes will take the audience on a wheel-spinning, nail-biting, day-dreaming escapade through the city. ‘Urban Circus’ shows the City’s inhabitants as they try to strive, survive and thrive in a delicate and dextrous dance through the intoxicating frenzy of urban life.
‘Urban Circus’ is brought to you by an exciting collaboration between the brilliant Jozi circus company, The Cirk and well-known physical theatre practitioner and Cirque du Soleil alumni, Daniel.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by The Cirk in collaboration with Daniel Buckland
Cast list:
Brian Ngobese
Claudia Moruzzi
Demi Wentzel
Nataniel Pires
Marco Vargas
River Makings
Sipho Mqotsha
Tamsyn Dexter
Vaughn Hurly
All images by Joanna Pawelczyk
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Daniel Buckland
Daniel Buckland is an actor, director and theatre-maker who has been working professionally both locally and internationally for over twenty years. He has previously performed lead roles in Cirque du Soleil’s acclaimed Vegas show Love as well as their international touring show Saltimbanco. His other theatre credits include FTH:K’s Wombtide, Sylvaine Strike’s The Travellers, and Lindi Matshikiza and the Hillbrow Theatre’s The Donkey Child.
He is the Co Artistic Director of Dark Laugh theatre Company whose production of The Butcher Brothers also directed by Sylvaine Strike, was awarded the 2011 Naledi Award for Best Cutting Edge Production and a Standard Bank Ovation Award. He collaborated with Strike in the production of the Standard Bank Ovation Award winning one man show The God Complex.
In 2013 he began working extensively in film and television, partnering up with The Flying Circus as a performer, writer and director of the company’s motion capture performance. During this time, he further crafted his skills in live action direction going on to co-write and direct the 26 part SAFTA nominated television series Silly Seasons as well as co-writing and directing the full length animated feature film Inside Job. In 2018 he directed four feature films for Perplexia Pictures two of which he wrote.
Daniel, along with Roberto Pombo, Mlindeli Zondi and Kyla Davis, is a founding member of the Johannesburg School of Mask and Movement (JSSMT). JSMMT is dedicated to the development of artistic excellence in the medium of mask and movement theatre. The experienced pedagogic team offer a variety of workshops and training aimed at aspiring theatre-makers, performers, existing theatre practitioners, and artists wishing to expand their creative and poetic limits.
Daniel can sing and dance on command and plays the musical saw.
Michael Inglis
After graduating from UCT in 2003 with a BA in Theatre and Performance, Michael Inglis has worked in the theatre in a variety of capacities. He has worked extensively as a stage-manager for various theatres and theatre producers, including The Baxter Theatre, The Fugard Theatre, Madame Zingara and
Showtime Management, and at theatres and arts festivals around the globe.
For the last 6 years he has worked as the Assistant Technical Director for Splitbeam, a theatre equipment rental and technical production company based in Johannesburg. Michael is the founder and director of Emmet Theatre.
Orlando Vargas
Orlando is a professional circus artist with 20 years’ experience in performing, rigging, and managing events.
He was formally trained in circus performing arts at Circo Del Mundo school in Chile.
He performed in many countries around the world and moved to South Africa in 2006. Having performed in numerous shows in South Africa, including Madame Zingara, he formed his first company in 2008, with his former partner. He has excellent business and people skills and is passionate about social development.
Joshua Cutts
Joshua, Director of Visual Frontier, is one of South Africa’s leading lighting designers for the stage and television. He has designed and worked on some of the largest and most exciting events including the South Africa Music Awards (SAMAs), Idols SA, Channel O Music Awards, The Voice South Africa and Miss SA. He consistently delivers a high standard of design that is characterized by a need to push the technological aspect of lighting to the next level. He recently ventured back into theatre design with the highly successful production West Side Story produced by the Fugard Theatre and Calling Me Home produced by Shy Music.
Joshua has been awarded the TPSA (Technical Practitioners South Africa) Lighting Designer of the Year, 2012, 2014 and 2015, and the Naledi Award for his lighting design of West Side Story.
Michelle Vok
Michelle Fok is a multi-skilled professional with training in Architecture as well as in Public Health studies at honors level.
She was introduced to the arts very early in her childhood where she was exposed to various dance disciplines. Her career has evolved to include Pilates, aerial and pole training, performing across South Africa and on several international stages.
Michelle currently sits as one of the Directors at Jozi Circus School where the combination of her strong academic background and tactful nature play an important role in setting up organisational structures.