Front Stella Masters (17) Palmyra and Tim Simpson (23) Vic Park with Phoebe Ingleson (18) Melville and Maddie Barrett (18) Fremantle. Natano Fa’anana with performers from Circus’s WA Youth Troupe. Photo: Andrew Ritchie
Camera IconFront Stella Masters (17) Palmyra and Tim Simpson (23) Vic Park with Phoebe Ingleson (18) Melville and Maddie Barrett (18) Fremantle. Natano Fa’anana with performers from Circus’s WA Youth Troupe. Photo: Andrew Ritchie Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Youth performers set to trapeze in performance at Freo Big Top

Leah RobertsFremantle Gazette

WORKING with emerging young performers when they are forming their artistic identity is a unique experience, according to co-director of Cutting Teeth Natano Fa’anana.

Cutting Teeth is a coming of age story performed by Sliders, CircusWA’s youth troupe.

Fa’anana said the story focuses on the junction where teenagers decide which direction to go in.

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“We talk about end of schooling, illness, alignments and even trauma which has influenced the direction of their life,” he said.

“The show has everything from trapeze to double trapeze, to four people on a rope, to two girls in an aerial hoop, hand balancing and crazy tumbling.

“There are standard tricks that come with the circus but there are these beautiful real moments that belong to each of the individual as artists that I like to draw out, not so much trick ponies.”

Mr Fa’anana said he loves working with the next generation of circus performers.

“I am working with people who are working to form their identity in terms of artists that is fun and new,” he said.

“We have to create the show in five days, it’s a big ask but it’s not impossible.

“The young artists’ enthusiasm has certainly been a blessing.”

THE ESSENTIALS:

WHAT: Cutting Teeth

WHEN: Thursday 24 and Friday 25 January

WHERE: Freo Big Top