Casus Circus & Cluster Arts have a gem on their hands with Chasing Smoke. It is running now at the Brisbane Powerhouse with the last show on Saturday 3rd of November, 2018. From the opening ‘til the curtain falls, Australia’s only Indigenous contemporary circus ensemble take you on a spellbinding rollercoaster ride. The group of acrobats display extraordinary feats as they effortlessly perform a stunning selection of tricks and circus acts infused with contemporary dance.
Chasing Smoke is an exciting, upbeat performance but also carries an emotional weight behind the ironic jokes and spectacle. The emu placenta beauty products, colonial tokenism, the game show sale of Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as a Kermit the Frog appearance singing Rainbow Connection to the caricatures – including Rolf and Aretha, to an imitation of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colours – you are ultimately engaged with the messages at hand and walk away with plenty of food for thought.
There was spectacular choreography involved in the show. Each artist had a narrated performance reflecting on their own lives and their personal connection to the land and their Indigenous heritage, in some cases struggling to know where exactly it came from. These were intimate scenes and a refreshing way to connect with each individual performer. We were able to hear as well as see, quite literally, how they felt about themselves and who they were as people as well as performers.
Oftentimes, there are Indigenous men who are fair-skinned that are struggling to connect to the land and who they truly are - especially growing up in the modern world. The way each performer danced, in a beautiful Indigenous dance style infused with contemporary dance demonstrates how they felt not only as a performer expressing themselves, but their own internal struggle. It was an honour to be gifted insight into each performer and their story.
The show packed a lifetime of cataclysm and revelation into 60 minutes. You will cry – you will feel deep sadness – you will laugh, and your spirits will be lifted. It pushes buttons you didn’t know were there and many that you did. Chasing Smoke received a standing ovation. Not to mention every school kid on the left side of the theatre was applauding and on their feet - I don’t know about you, but if a show can relate to, connect and get school kids up and cheering, bursting with enthusiasm, they must be doing something right.
Our Culture is our spiritual History. It’s in our DNA. It’s part of who we are.
You can’t take away our dreams.
Brisbane Powerhouse, Visy Theatre
24th Oct - 3rd Nov, 2018
Donald Gunn & Joanna Letic