A high-octane spree of physical virtuosity, Backbone tests the limits of strength: physical, emotional, individual and collective.
Staged with a deceptively DIY aesthetic and dispensing of trickery and distraction, this is circus that goes straight for the jugular and leaves no viewer unmoved. Backbone is the culmination of all that's gone before: a celebration of human connectedness and the meaning of strength, its athletic appeal is run through with a conceptual brilliance that elevates it to a new level.
Sexy but sincere, raw yet utterly disciplined, Backbone is proof you can't do the impossible without spending a little sweat.
A complex performance that wouldn’t be out of place on the world stage.
A glorious flow of action and reaction … The acrobatics are eloquent and sensational, full of original twists that spell out a new language.
Magnetic world premiere, a perfect combination of fluidity, mettle and danger … The sheer strength of body and character needed to round out this frenzied performance demonstrates a discipline and camaraderie, rarely seen on stage. Simply a joy to watch.
Circus, as you’ve never seen it before, pushed to its conceptual and cerebral limits. A genre-defying, thought-provoking, visual extravaganza … so intensely beautiful it makes you proud to be human.
The Making of Backbone
Sticks & Stones is a documentary series made by Carnival Cinema about GOM’s history and the making of Backbone. Watch It Here
Credits
Director: Darcy Grant
Set & Lighting Designer: Geoff Cobham
Creative Associate: Triton Tunis-Mitchell
Composers & Musicians: Elliot Zoerner & Shenton Gregory find the soundtrack here
Creative Ensemble: Jacob Randell, Jascha Boyce, Lachlan Binns, Mieke Lizotte, Lewie West, Martin Schreiber, Joanne Curry, Lachlan Harper, Lewis Rankin, Jackson Manson
Current Ensemble: Alyssa Moore, Annalise Moore, Axel Osborne, Benton Adams-Walker, Jackson Manson, Jacob Randell, Jordan Hart, Kevin Beverley, Lachlan Harper, Megan Giesbrecht, Nick Martyn, Sonja Schebeck
Show Information
Show Duration: 80 minutes
Audience Suitability: General
Stage Size: Min 12m wide x 10m depth / Height clearance of 7m to grid
Venue: Designed for proscenium arch theatres with 600+ capacity
Complete description, touring budget, and technical specifications supplied on request.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc., Adelaide Festival, Sydney Festival and Melbourne Festival.
Touring History
- Melbourne Australia - Melbourne Festival2017
- Groningen, Netherlands - Noorderzon Festival2017
- Trutnov, Czech Republic - CirkUFF2017
- Marl, Germany - Ruhrfestspiele - Theater Marl2017
- Adelaide, Australia - Adelaide Festival2017
- Graz, Austria - Cirque Noël2018
- Montreal, Canada - CINARS Biennale2018
- Vancouver, Canada - Vancouver Playhouse Theatre2018
- Genk, Belgium - Cirq C-mine2018
- Diest, Belgium - CC Den Amer2018
- Rotterdam, Netherlands - Theatre Rotterdam2018
- Montbéliard, France - The Mals – Theater Sochaux2018
- Utrecht, Netherlands - Stadsschouwburg2018
- Drachten, Netherlands - Schouwburg De Lawei2018
- Eindhoven, Netherlands - Park Theatre2018
- Amersfoort, Netherlands - Rabobank Theater Hall2018
- Beveren, Belgium - Cultuur Centrum Beveren2018
- Aalst, Belgium - Cultuurcentrum Aalst2018
- Roeselare, Belgium - De Spil - Roeselare2018
- Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium - Zwaneberg2018
- Turnhout, Belgium - De Warande2018
- Budapest, Hungary - Trafo2018
- London, UK - Southbank Centre2018
- Wolfsburg, Germany - Autostadt Summer Festival2018
- Stuttgart, Germany - Theaterhaus Stuttgart2018
- Galway, Ireland - Galway Arts Festival2018
- Montreal, Canada - Montreal Completement Cirque2018
- Kortrijk, Belgium - PERPLX2018
- Luxembourg - Wiltz Festival2018
- Prague, Czech Republic - Jatka782018
- Sibiu, Romania - Sibiu International Theatre Festival2018
- Charleston, SC, USA - Sploleto Festival2018
- Whyalla, Australia - Middleback Arts Centre2018
- Brisbane, Australia - Brisbane Powerhouse2018
- Sydney, Australia - Sydney Festival2018
- Paris, France - La Villette2019
- Châlons-en-Champagne, France - La Comète Scène Nationale2019
- Fort McMurray, AB, Canada - Keyano College Theatre & Arts Centre2019
- Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada - Dow Centennial Centre, Shell Theatre2019
- Camrose, AB, Canada - Camrose Performing Arts Centre2019
- Prince Albert, SK, Canada - EA Rawlinson Centre2019
- Medicine Hat, BA, Canada - Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre2019
- Vernon, BC, Canada - Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre2019
- Santa Monica, CA, USA - The Broad Stage2019
- Irvine, CA, USA - Irvine Barclay Theatre2019
- Stanford, CA, USA - Memorial Auditorium2019
- Karlsruhe, Germany - Tollhaus2019
- Haarlem, Netherlands - Stadsschouwburg Zaal2019
- Delft, Netherlands - Theater de Veste2019
- Edinburgh, Scotland - Edinburgh Fringe Festival2019
- Barcelona, Spain - Grec Festival2019
- Amsterdam, Netherlands - Royal Theater Carré2019
- São Paulo, Brazil - Sesc Pinheiros2019
- Helsinki, Finland - Cirko Festival2019
- Brighton UK - Brighton Festival2019
- Uijeongbu, South Korea - Uijeongbu Music Theatre Festival2019
- Gwangmyeong, South Korea - Gwangmyeong Citizen's Hall2019
- Anyang, South Korea - Anyang Arts Centre2019
- Busan, South Korea - Busan Cultural Center2019
- Borås, Sweden - Borås Stadsteater2019
- Kungsbacka, Sweden - Kungsbacka Teater2019
- Göteborg, Sweden - Stora Teatern2019
- Vara, Sweden - Vara Konserthus2019
- Skövde, Sweden - Stadsteatern2019
- Säffle, Sweden - Medborgarhuset2019
- Östersund, Sweden - Storsjöteatern2019
- Umeå, Sweden - Folkets Hus2019
- Piteå, Sweden - Nolia City Konferens2019
- Sundsvall, Sweden - Tonhallen2019
- Karlskrona, Sweden - Konserthusteatern2019
- Auckland, New Zealand - Auckland Festival2019
- Fredericton, NB, Canada - The Playhouse2020
- Saint John, NB, Canada - Imperial Theatre2020
- St.Therese, QC, Canada - Théâtre Lionel-Groulx2020
- Morges, Switzerland - Théâtre Beausobre2020
- Lillebonne, France - Centre Culturel Juliobona2020
- Fos sur Mer, France - Théâtre2020
- Fréjus, France - Théâtre le Forum2020
- Caluire et Cuire, France - Le Radiant Bellevue2020
- Cergy, France - Nouvelle Scène Nationale2020
- Mâcon, France - La Scène Nationale2020
- Salzburg, Austria - Winterfest2021
- Ballerup, Denmark - BALTOPPEN Live2021
- St.Pölten, Austria - Festspielhaus2021
- Moss, Norway - Moss Kulturhus2022
- Larvik, Norway - Larvik2022
- Stavanger, Norway - Stavanger Konserthus2022
- Haugesund, Norway - Haugesund Konserthus2022
- Saint Maxime, France - Carré Léon Gaumont2022
- Lyon, France - Maison de la Danse2022
- Aix-en-Provence, France - Grand Théâtre de Provence2022
- Drammen, Norway - Drammen2022
- Bærum, Norway - Bærum Kulturhus2022
- Skien, Norway - Ibsenhuset2022
- Nøtterøy, Norway - Nøtterøy Kulturhus2022
- Arendal, Norway - Arendal Kulturhus2022
- Saint-Denis, Réunion - TEAT ile de La Réunion2022
- Nîmes, France - Théâtre de Nîmes2022
- Blagnac, France - Odyssud Blagnac2022
- Mont de Marsan, France - Le Pôle2022
- Biarritz, France - Gare Du Midi2022
- Mérignac, France - Le Pin Galant2022
- Le Havre, France - Le Volcan - Grande salle2022
- Rungis, France - Theatre De Rungis2022
- Noisy le Grand, France2022
- Plessis Robinson, France - Theéâtre DE L’Allegria2022
- Clichy sous Bois, France - L'espace 932022
- Cusset, France - Théâtre de Cusset2022
- Cébazat, France - Semaphore Cebazat2022
- Stuttgart, Germany - Theaterhaus StuttgartAugust 15 - 21
- Hull, UK - Freedom FestivalAugust 26 - 27
- Heerlen, Netherlands - Festival Cultura NovaAugust 31 - September 1
- Ballerup, Denmark - Baltoppen LiveSeptember 8 - 11
- Dusseldorf, Germany - Dusseldorf FestivalSeptember 16 - 18
- Canberra, ACT, Australia - The PlayhouseOctober 13 - 15
- Bathurst, NSW, Australia - Ian MacIntosh TheatreOctober 18
- Wyong, NSW, Australia - The Art HouseOctober 22
- Newcastle, NSW, Australia - Newcastle Civic TheatreOctober 25 - 26
- Taree, NSW, Australia - Manning Entertainment CentreOctober 29
- Pt Macquarie, NSW, Australia - GlasshouseOctober 31 - November 1
- Bendigo, VIC, Australia - Ulumbarra TheatreNovember 9 - 10
- Frankston, VIC, Australia - Frankston Arts CentreNovember 12
- Saint-Dizier, France - Les FuseauxJanuary 14
- Grenoble, France - Maison da la Culture de GrenobleJanuary 17 - 19
- Sallanches, France - Room Léon CurralJanuary 21
- Douai, France - TANDEM Scène nationale / Hippodrome de DouaiJanuary 24 - 25
- Fribourg, Switzerland - Equilibre-NuithonieJanuary 29
- Annemasse, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France - Chateau RougeJanuary 31 - 1
- Villejuif, Île-de-France - Romain Rolland TheaterFebruary 3 - 4
- Le Grand-Quevilly, France - Théâtre Charles DullinFebruary 7
- Joué-lès-Tours, France - Espace MalrauxFebruary 9
- Boulogne-Billancourt, France - Carré Belle-FeuilleFebruary 11
- Charleroi, Belgium - Palais des Beaux Arts de CharleroiFebruary 15 - 16
- Kochi, Japan - The Museum of ArtSeptember 30 - October 1
- Poissy, France - Théâtre de PoissyMarch 1
- Rambouillet, France - La LanterneMarch 2
- Alès, France - Le Cratère | Scène nationale d’AlesMarch 5 - 6
- Le Creusot, France - L'arc scène national Le CreusotMarch 8
- Dole, France - Les Scènes du JuraMarch 9
- Oyonnax, France - L'Ain, Aragon Cultural CenterMarch 12
- La Rochelle, France - La CoursiveMarch 14 - 16
- Lanester, France - MAIRIE DE LANESTERMarch 19
- La Roche sur Yon, France - Le Grand RMarch 20 - 21
- Laval, France - Le Théâtre de LavalMarch 22 - 23
- Cachan, France - Théâtre Jacques CaratMarch 26
- Ettelbruck, Luxembourg - CAPEMay 8
- Leuven, Belgium - CIRKLMay 11 - 12
- New York, USA - Lincoln CenterMay 16 - 17