Backbone

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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.
The Adelaide Review
A glorious flow of action and reaction … The acrobatics are eloquent and sensational, full of original twists that spell out a new language.
The Advertiser
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.
Limelight Magazine
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.
InDaily
Promo image. Photo credit: Darcy Grant
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Andrew Miller
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Hamish McCormick
Promo image. Photo credit: Andrew Miller
Promo image. Photo credit: Andrew Miller
Promo image. Photo credit: Andrew Miller
Promo image. Photo credit: Andrew Miller
Promo image. Photo credit: Rob Maccoll
Promo image. Photo credit: Andrew Miller

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

  • Adelaide, Australia - Adelaide Festival
    March 14 - 19
  • Marl, Germany - Ruhrfestspiele - Theater Marl
    May 25 - 28
  • Trutnov, Czech Republic - CirkUFF
    June 4
  • Groningen, Netherlands - Noorderzon Festival
    August 17 - 21
  • Melbourne, Australia - Melbourne Festival
    October 4 - 8
  • Sydney, Australia - Sydney Festival
    January 16 - 21
  • Brisbane, Australia - Brisbane Powerhouse
    February 17
  • Whyalla, Australia - Middleback Arts Centre
    April 14
  • Charleston, SC, United States - Sploleto Festival
    May 30
  • Sibiu, Romania - Sibiu International Theatre Festival
    June 13 - 14
  • Prague, Czech Republic - Jatka78
    June 21
  • Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Wiltz Festival
    June 27
  • Kortrijk, Belgium - PERPLX
    June 30 - July 1
  • Montreal, Canada - Montreal Completement Cirque
    July 5 - 14
  • Galway, Ireland - Galway Arts Festival
    July 17 - 21
  • Stuttgart, Germany - Theaterhaus Stuttgart
    July 19
  • Wolfsburg, Germany - Autostadt Summer Festival
    August 1 - 5
  • London, England - Southbank Centre
    August 14 - 19
  • Budapest, Hungary - Trafo
    September 27 - 29
  • Turnhout, Belgium - De Warande
    October 3
  • Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium - Zwaneberg
    October 4
  • Roeselare, Belgium - De Spil - Roeselare
    October 5
  • Aalst, Belgium - Cultuurcentrum Aalst
    October 6
  • Beveren, Belgium - Cultuur Centrum Beveren
    October 7
  • Amersfoort, Netherlands - Rabobank Theater Hall
    October 11
  • Eindhoven, Netherlands - Park Theatre
    October 12
  • Drachten, Netherlands - Schouwburg De Lawei
    October 13
  • Utrecht, Netherlands - Stadsschouwburg
    October 14
  • Montbéliard, France - The Mals – Theater Sochaux
    October 18
  • Rotterdam, Netherlands - Theatre Rotterdam
    October 20
  • Diest, Belgium - CC Den Amer
    October 23
  • Genk, Belgium - Cirq C-mine
    October 26 - 27
  • Vancouver, Canada - Vancouver Playhouse Theatre
    October 30 - November 4
  • Montreal, Canada - CINARS Biennale
    November 14
  • Graz, Austria - Cirque Noël
    December 18 - January 6
  • Auckland, New Zealand - Auckland Festival
    March 14 - 17
  • Karlskrona, Sweden - Konserthusteatern
    March 24
  • Sundsvall, Sweden - Tonhallen
    March 27
  • Piteå, Sweden - Nolia City Konferens
    March 30
  • Umeå, Sweden - Folkets Hus
    April 1
  • Östersund, Sweden - Storsjöteatern
    April 3 - 4
  • Säffle, Sweden - Medborgarhuset
    April 7
  • Skövde, Sweden - Stadsteatern
    April 9
  • Vara, Sweden - Vara Konserthus
    April 10
  • Göteborg, Sweden - Stora Teatern
    April 12 - 13
  • Kungsbacka, Sweden - Kungsbacka Teater
    April 14
  • Borås, Sweden - Borås Stadsteater
    April 16
  • Busan, South Korea - Busan Cultural Center
    May 1 - 2
  • Anyang, South Korea - Anyang Arts Centre
    May 2 - 3
  • Gwangmyeong, South Korea - Gwangmyeong Citizen's Hall
    May 8
  • Uijeongbu, South Korea - Uijeongbu Music Theatre Festival
    May 11 - 12
  • Brighton, England - Brighton Festival
    May 15 - 17
  • Helsinki, Finland - Cirko Festival
    May 24
  • São Paulo, Brazil - Sesc Pinheiros
    June 5 - 8
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands - Royal Theater Carré
    July 6 - 8
  • Barcelona, Spain - Grec Festival
    July 12 - 13
  • Edinburgh, Scotland - Edinburgh Fringe Festival
    July 31 - August 26
  • Delft, Netherlands - Theater de Veste
    September 12
  • Haarlem, Netherlands - Stadsschouwburg Zaal
    September 13
  • Karlsruhe, Germany - Tollhaus
    September 18 - 21
  • Stanford, CA, United States - Memorial Auditorium
    October 11 - 12
  • Irvine, CA, United States - Irvine Barclay Theatre
    October 18 - 19
  • Santa Monica, CA, United States - The Broad Stage
    October 25 - 26
  • Vernon, BC, Canada - Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
    November 2
  • Medicine Hat, BA, Canada - Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre
    November 7 - 8
  • Prince Albert, SK, Canada - EA Rawlinson Centre
    November 13
  • Camrose, AB, Canada - Camrose Performing Arts Centre
    November 16
  • Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada - Dow Centennial Centre, Shell Theatre
    November 18
  • Fort McMurray, AB, Canada - Keyano College Theatre & Arts Centre
    November 21 - 24
  • Châlons-en-Champagne, France - La Comète Scène Nationale
    November 28 - 29
  • Paris, France - La Villette
    December 6 - 29
  • Mâcon, France - La Scène Nationale
    January 7 - 8
  • Cergy, France - Nouvelle Scène Nationale
    January 11 - 12
  • Caluire et Cuire, France - Le Radiant Bellevue
    January 14 - 15
  • Fréjus, France - Théâtre le Forum
    January 17
  • Fos sur Mer, France - Théâtre
    January 18
  • Lillebonne, France - Centre Culturel Juliobona
    January 21
  • Morges, Switzerland - Théâtre Beausobre
    January 24
  • St.Therese, QC, Canada - Théâtre Lionel-Groulx
    February 5
  • Saint John, NB, Canada - Imperial Theatre
    February 12
  • Fredericton, NB, Canada - The Playhouse
    February 14
  • St.Pölten, Austria - Festspielhaus
    November 27 - 28
  • Ballerup, Denmark - BALTOPPEN Live
    December 3 - 5
  • Salzburg, Austria - Winterfest
    December 9 - 23
  • Cébazat, France - Semaphore Cebazat
    January 11
  • Cusset, France - Théâtre de Cusset
    January 12
  • Clichy sous Bois, France - L'espace 93
    January 14
  • Plessis Robinson, France - Theéâtre DE L’Allegria
    January 16
  • Noisy le Grand, France
    January 18
  • Rungis, France - Theatre De Rungis
    January 22
  • Le Havre, France - Le Volcan - Grande salle
    January 27 - 29
  • Mérignac, France - Le Pin Galant
    February 3 - 4
  • Biarritz, France - Gare Du Midi
    February 6
  • Mont de Marsan, France - Le Pôle
    February 8
  • Blagnac, France - Odyssud Blagnac
    February 11 - 12
  • Nîmes, France - Théâtre de Nîmes
    February 15 - 18
  • Saint-Denis, France - TEAT ile de La Réunion
    February 25 - 26
  • Arendal, Norway - Arendal Kulturhus
    March 2
  • Nøtterøy, Norway - Nøtterøy Kulturhus
    March 5
  • Skien, Norway - Ibsenhuset
    March 10
  • Bærum, Norway - Bærum Kulturhus
    March 16 - 17
  • Drammen, Norway - Drammen
    March 20
  • Aix-en-Provence, France - Grand Théâtre de Provence
    March 25 - 26
  • Lyon, France - Maison de la Danse
    March 29 - April 6
  • Saint Maxime, France - Carré Léon Gaumont
    April 8
  • Haugesund, Norway - Haugesund Konserthus
    April 22
  • Stavanger, Norway - Stavanger Konserthus
    April 24
  • Larvik, Norway - Larvik
    April 28
  • Moss, Norway - Moss Kulturhus
    April 30
  • Stuttgart, Germany - Theaterhaus Stuttgart
    August 15 - 21
  • Hull, England - Freedom Festival
    August 26 - 27
  • Heerlen, Netherlands - Festival Cultura Nova
    August 31 - September 1
  • Ballerup, Denmark - Baltoppen Live
    September 8 - 11
  • Dusseldorf, Germany - Dusseldorf Festival
    September 16 - 18
  • Canberra, ACT, Australia - The Playhouse
    October 13 - 15
  • Bathurst, NSW, Australia - Ian MacIntosh Theatre
    October 18
  • Wyong, NSW, Australia - The Art House
    October 22
  • Newcastle, NSW, Australia - Newcastle Civic Theatre
    October 25 - 26
  • Taree, NSW, Australia - Manning Entertainment Centre
    October 29
  • Pt Macquarie, NSW, Australia - Glasshouse
    October 31 - November 1
  • Bendigo, VIC, Australia - Ulumbarra Theatre
    November 9 - 10
  • Frankston, VIC, Australia - Frankston Arts Centre
    November 12
  • Saint-Dizier, France - Les Fuseaux
    January 14
  • Grenoble, France - Maison da la Culture de Grenoble
    January 17 - 19
  • Sallanches, France - Room Léon Curral
    January 21
  • Douai, France - TANDEM Scène nationale / Hippodrome de Douai
    January 24 - 25
  • Fribourg, Switzerland - Equilibre-Nuithonie
    January 29
  • Annemasse, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France - Chateau Rouge
    January 31 - 1
  • Villejuif, France - Romain Rolland Theater
    February 3 - 4
  • Le Grand-Quevilly, France - Théâtre Charles Dullin
    February 7
  • Joué-lès-Tours, France - Espace Malraux
    February 9
  • Boulogne-Billancourt, France - Carré Belle-Feuille
    February 11
  • Charleroi, Belgium - Palais des Beaux Arts de Charleroi
    February 15 - 16
  • Kochi, Japan - The Museum of Art
    September 30 - October 1
  • Poissy, France - Théâtre de Poissy
    March 1
  • Rambouillet, France - La Lanterne
    March 2
  • Alès, France - Le Cratère | Scène nationale d’Ales
    March 5 - 6
  • Le Creusot, France - L'arc scène national Le Creusot
    March 8
  • Dole, France - Les Scènes du Jura
    March 9
  • Oyonnax, France - L'Ain, Aragon Cultural Center
    March 12
  • La Rochelle, France - La Coursive
    March 14 - 16
  • Lanester, France - MAIRIE DE LANESTER
    March 19
  • La Roche sur Yon, France - Le Grand R
    March 20 - 21
  • Laval, France - Le Théâtre de Laval
    March 22 - 23
  • Cachan, France - Théâtre Jacques Carat
    March 26
  • Ettelbruck, Luxembourg - CAPE
    May 8
  • Leuven, Belgium - CIRKL
    May 11 - 12
  • New York, United States - Lincoln Center
    May 16 - 17

Shoulder To Shoulder | Sweat & Joy

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we make our work, the Kaurna people.

We honour their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge that the Indigenous people are the first artists of Australia.

It is our privilege to live and create on their country.

Supported By

australian major festivals initiative logosouth australia logoCreative Australia logosouth australian circus centre logocarnival cinema logoipay logoRise FundSydney Myer Fund logo