Circus Spectacular: World's best acrobats descend on Newcastle for La Ronde
- Liane Morris
- 23 hours ago
- 8 min read
Newcastle’s annual love affair with Strut & Fret’s Spiegeltent continues this year with their latest sensation of circus, cabaret and spectacle, La Ronde. Forming the jewel in the crown of this year’s New Annual festival, La Ronde takes over Civic Park from 5 September to 5 October, fresh from 14 five-star reviews at its Adelaide Fringe World Premiere and followup Darwin season. Prepare to be bedazzled, Newy, because this isn’t just a show - it’s a fullblown sensory experience!
International production powerhouse Strut & Fret is known for its unique brand of edge-ofyour-seat theatre hits, such as Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de Blanc Encore, and LIMBO. It has become a global success story, with shows concurrently running at permanent venues in London and Brisbane’s West End. Their latest creation, La Ronde, brings together some of the planet’s most daring variety artists. Expect hair-hanging and mouth-hanging aerialists, flying-pole sensations, and vivacious European cabaret performers performing right above, around, and even among you.
According to producer Jess Copas, La Ronde is the crème de la crème of European, highly skilled circus talent, meets sultry cabaret, but with a disco soundtrack energy. It’s also been created for audiences to experience in the round - on all four sides of the tent with a 360-degree view of the show that happens in, above and around the spectators.
“The big difference Newcastle will notice this year is that the set is a lot more intimate with people literally sitting 360 degrees around the action,” said Jess.
“It brings people closer than ever before to the action and creates an intimate connection between the performer and the audience. It makes the experience very special. And with so many aerials in the show, there’s a lot of looking up in awe - there really isn’t a bad seat in the house! It’s just one ‘wow’ moment after another, and accompanied by the vocals and soundtrack, it’s an incredibly uplifting night out for everyone!
“You’ll feel a bit of everything throughout the show - it’s intimate and elegant one moment, high energy and hysterical the next!
The skills performed in La Ronde are truly the best in the world; they do things I didn’t even know were possible. It’s one of the most incredible casts I’ve worked with.”
Director Scott Maidment has assembled a cast of exceptional international performers, many of whom are making their Australian debut, in a high-energy fusion of circus, cabaret, comedy, and burlesque.
“We work with our cast to develop the acts that make it into the show. We go into rehearsal before each season starts and workshop the apparatus of each of the artists into the show. Our artists are like family; we grow and flex together, meaning our productions remain fresh and unique.
Each act is wrapped in Strut & Fret’s signature flair—meticulous costuming, clever lighting, and seamless pacing that blends high adrenaline moments with playful interludes.
The vintage, one-hundred-year-old Dutch Spiegeltent itself becomes part of the magic, with its mirrored walls, the warmth of timber, and intimate seating drawing the audience into the performance. With plush velvet drapes, air-conditioned comfort, and a central stage that ensures no one is far from the action, the venue amplifies the show’s electricity and adds to the European ambience of decadent cabaret. Stepping into the Spiegeltent is like transporting yourself across time and space into a magical world that takes you out of your ordinary life for just a few hours.
Each year that the Spiegeltent lands in Newcastle, it draws a team of Novocastrian crew members keen to help set it up. Just like a giant Meccano set, there are unbelievably no tools, no screws, no nails, no bolts and no machinery required. Originally, all the pieces could be lifted by one person; today, it takes less than a dozen people to erect the tent.
“There is this wonderful sense of romantic achievement that people feel when they are a part of this traditional process,” said Scott.
“It’s a beautiful heritage piece that people love to work on. It does take a lot of maintenance, though. There is always something being worked on and repaired.”
No expense is spared, and as with all Strut & Fret shows, there are very high-quality production values. The tent concept may remind audiences of a circus, but that’s where the comparison ends because the tent is so unique, extravagant, and romantic. Cabaret and variety are reminiscent of burlesque and fringe shows, but these shows sit well above that level of performance and are not burlesque. The content may be adults only, but it’s risqué, not rude, and the skill of the artists is world-class.
“The skill and talent of our performers, my creative team and our high production values set it way above the level of fringe or circus, and our shows can be seen again and again, with something new to enjoy every time you come.”
Newcastle audiences are very familiar with the Spiegeltent magic, having seen many shows multiple times, and La Ronde will not disappoint. La Ronde combines aesthetic elegance and heart-stopping spectacle with playful, interactive moments. The show’s energy is relentless, moving seamlessly between high-energy acrobatics, comedic relief, and cabaret charm. The audience’s reactions are just as much a part of the performance as the acts themselves, creating a festive and inclusive atmosphere where everyone is swept up in the fun. Don’t expect a narrative thread, this is pure spectacle – the best of the best, some of the most talented performers in the world, entertaining, thrilling, awe-inspiring, sexy and mesmerising!
Among the headline performers that Maidment has scoured the world for is Sergiy Mishchurenko, on an aerial/trapeze pole. Sergiy appeared on Romania’s Got Talent in 2024 and competed in the 44th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris this year, the world's largest circus competition. He is a highly accomplished dancer, ranging from contemporary to hip-hop. Born in Ukraine and now living in Germany, it’s his first time performing in Australia. He’s considered a master of the flying pole, exhibiting feats of strength and flexibility that are hard to believe.
Joining him on stage is fellow Ukrainian, also living in Germany, and new to Australia, Diana Bondarenko, Her gravity-defying aerial artistry has enchanted audiences across the show’s debut tour. Her performances, described as spellbinding, combine precision, strength, and elegance, leaving audiences breathless. It’s her pouting, red-clad visage you see on the posters for La Ronde.
From Belarus comes the incredible Polina, who holds the Guinness World Records title for the most spins in 30 seconds while suspended by her hair. She has performed in Dubai, France, Germany, and Switzerland, and this is her first time in Australia. Another aerialist, Felipe Reyes, hangs by his mouth! A Colombian who lives in the UK and performed at the London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, he has toured six continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, plus Oceania.
José Carlos Campos, originally from Gran Canaria, one of Spain’s Canary Islands off northwestern Africa, is a trained ballet dancer, an experienced musical theatre performer and has worked as a master of ceremonies at some of the best cabarets in the world, including Crazy Horse Paris, Lío Ibiza, the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and Nomad Croatia. He brings all this talent, comedy and charm to La Ronde as the show’s ‘clown’.
Keeping us all dancing in our seats and bringing the upbeat melodies to life is Geniris, a dazzling vocal performance artist from the Dominican Republic, currently living in Spain. Her impressive career includes performances in Disney’s The Lion King musical, appearances on major TV shows such as The Voice, and starring roles in high-end dinner shows, including Billionaire Dubai. Geniris was scouted by Scott Maidment via her Instagram account and has only been in the country for a month.
“I have fallen in love with Australia,” said Geniris.
“The green trees, the nature, remind me of home and make me a little homesick sometimes. But the cast usually eat dinner together each night, and I video call my Mum, so I’m super happy. This experience is completely new to me. I’m used to performing with other dancers rather than acrobats, and my usual style is Salsa, Latin, Jennifer Lopez – some of the songs I perform in the show I’d never heard before. It’s been amazing though, and my favourite song in the show is I’m Coming Out by Diana Ross. I also love my sexy red costumes!”
The only Australian in the cast is Adam Malone, who hails from Gosford on the Central Coast and now lives in Melbourne when he’s not on tour. Adam is a master of the Washington Trapeze, an extremely rare skill that few in the world can perform. It’s basically balancing on a trapeze bar on your head! Adam has previously
performed in Blanc de Blanc and has been performing professionally since the age of 13.
“I grew up around gymnastics,” said Adam.
“My sister was an elite gymnast, so I have been doing that since before I can remember. When I was young, a circus came to town and set up a training space, and I fell into it. I ended up travelling and performing with the Moscow Family Circus from the age of 13 - I didn’t run away to the circus as such, because my mother always supported me, but I guess it was a bit like that.
“I gave it up in my early 20s and became a make-up artist. I found myself part of the Queer scene, performing in drag at nightclubs, and realised it was a full-circle moment. I took myself off to study at NICA – the National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne, and studied under a legendary Chinese master, Mr Lu, who taught me the ‘Imperial Secrets’ of acrobatics, particularly the Washington Trapeze. It’s a rare performance skill and very unusual to see it in a cabaret setting, as it often involves much heavier equipment, but I’ve got my own gear. I’m also one of the few men who do hoops. I’ve developed my own style – kind of an aggressive burlesque flavour to it. And I still do my own make-up. It’s a creative outlet for me, and I mix it up all the time with something different every night!
"I’m super excited to perform in Newcastle – it feels like home. "
“With so many of my family members there, it’s always special, but this time even more so, as my grandmother can’t travel and hasn’t seen me perform in years. Having her in the audience makes this show especially meaningful.”
Reviews from Adelaide say that Adam’s performance has the audience in stitches, performing physical comedy at its finest, in high heels no less, and dialling up the raunchier side of the show (he may get his kit off!).
“It’s important to stay as fit as possible,” said Adam.
“We perform every day, which is a workout and practice all at the same time, but I’m also into gym training, staying fit and strong and building muscle is important, especially as I’m getting older now at 33!”
This year, in addition to the fabulousness of La Ronde, the Spiegeltent will also provide the venue for two nights of comedy on 13 and 14 September, featuring Merrick Watts. An Idiot’s Guide to Wine: Volume Two promises new jokes, new wines, same idiot! A brand-new show from Australia’s favourite comedian slash wine expert.
The List called La Ronde “all killer, no filler,” – it’s an edge-of-your-seat extravaganza guaranteed to leave you breathless, and you won’t want to miss it. Tickets for La Ronde start at $70 for previews, with General Admission $80. Premium admission is available for $115. The running time is approximately 90 minutes, and the show is recommended for audiences 15 years and older. The Spiegeltent bar opens one hour before each performance, so get there early and enjoy a drink. With no allocated seating, it’s first-come, first-served, so arrive together to sit together.
Details available from www.strutnfret.com/shows/la-ronde-newcastle
