World Premiere of Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show opens in Brisbane

It’s opening week, and Shaun the Sheep will debut on stage, but not as we know him. With the help of Circa and Aardman, Shaun, the Farmer, Timmy, Bitzer, and the flock (and even the pigs) leap into the Lyric Theatre, at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC ) for the start of world premiere season of Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show.

Shaun the Sheep, Aardman’s family-favourite TV series, is recognised the world over for its slapstick humour, unique look and strong, eccentric characters are relished across multiple media platforms. Shaun, who has a TV show and two movies of his own, and first showed his sheepish face in Wallace & Gromit ‘A Close Shave’ (1995), can now add circus stage show to his growing list of appearances.

Shaun and the flock will entertain the audience through incredible feats of daredevil acrobatics and vibrant circus skills. The entire family will be treated to a visual spectacle, where Aardman’s signature Shaun the Sheep animation is combined with live performance from Circa. Teeming with clever humour creating feel good laugh-out-loud moments, in Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show Circa successfully create a seamless fusion of movement, dance, theatre, and circus.

Under the direction of circus visionary Yaron Lifschitz, Circa Contemporary Circus – based in Brisbane, Australia, features an ensemble of exceptional, multi-skilled circus artists. They have been a regular fixture at leading festivals and venues in New York, London, Berlin and Montreal with seasons at Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Barbican Centre, Les Nuits de Fourvière, Chamäleon Theatre as well as major Australian Festivals.

Aardman, based in Bristol (UK) and co-founded in 1976 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, is an independent and multi-award-winning studio. It produces feature films, series, advertising, games and interactive entertainment and innovative. Its productions are global in appeal, novel, entertaining, brilliantly characterised, and full of charm reflecting the unique talent, energy and personal commitment of the Aardman team.

The studio’s work – known for the creation of much-loved characters including Wallace & Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep continues to lead the field producing a rare brand of visually stunning content. Aardman fans will rush to tell you their favourites– I can’t decide if mine is their really early work, the imaginative Morph, or their funny 90’s film, Chicken Run, or their new work, like What’s Up With Everyone? a campaign to encourage young people to become more aware of their mental well-being.

Ahead of the performance you can watch insightful content created by the Circa and Aardman powerhouses providing behind the scenes sneak-peeks. You can hear Yaron Lifschitz, Circa Artistic Director, share some of the challenges they faced when transitioning a show as popular as Shaun the Sheep from the television screen to the circus stage.

Or you might choose to watch Sean Clarke Aardman Managing Director, and Merlin Crossingham, Aardman Creative Director, as they offer a sense of what audiences can expect from Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show, including all the best elements of the television series, recrafted to sit comfortably on the circus stage.

 

Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show is produced by Shaun Comerford and Yaron Lifschitz with QPAC, Screen Queensland and Circa Contemporary Circus by Special arrangement with Aardman Animations.

Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show has been supported through the Australian Federal Government’s Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (Rise) fund and by the Queensland Government’s Arts Illuminate fund.

For more information and ticket purchases visit: www.shaunthesheepcircus.com.au