Crank it up with Kai Johnson-Peady

Grab a box of popcorn and dust off your diablo, because Circus Oz are back home in Melbourne and their 2013 show Cranked Up opens on Thursday.

If you want to win a double pass to see the show on Wednesday 26 June, click here.

Kai Johnson-Peady joined The Flying Fruit Fly Circus School in 2001, when he was 9. He spent 10 years training, performing and touring as a Fruit Fly and began working as an acrobatics trainer in 2009. He’s since performed all around Western Australia in a school show called Bouncing Around and toured Bahrain and Bogota for performing in Tom Tom Crew.

He joined Circus Oz in 2012 and chats to Anne-Marie Peard.

What do you do in Cranked up?
Acrobat.

What was the first trick you learnt?
It was probably a cartwheel.

When did you join Circus Oz?
Mid–2012, for the regional Australia tour.

What do you love about Circus Oz?
I love the people who I work with.

What other jobs have you had?
I worked in a factory for a while, and then moved on to coaching acrobatics.

Do you remember your first trip to the circus?
I’ve seen too many to remember which was my first!

What’s your favourite post-show snack?
Beer.

Where and what did you study?
I went through high school at The Flying Fruit Fly Circus School.

What was your first show as a performer?
Stage Fright when I was 11.

How many suitcases do you tour with?
Just one.

Where’s your favourite place to tour to?
Anywhere international is always fun.

What’s your favourite popcorn flavour?
It comes in different flavours?

How many hot doughnuts can you eat in one sitting?
I guess it would depend on how hungry I was.

If you couldn’t be in the circus, what would you do?
I have no idea

If you could teach Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott a circus trick, what would it be?
A triple backsault.

Cranked Up
Melbourne: 19 June – 14 July
Then it heads to Perth, Geraldton, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Whyalla, Norlunga, Renmark and Mount Gambier.
Details here.