MELBOURNE, VIC. — La Ronde will debut at the Spiegel Haus, Melbourne, on Wednesday, October 21, at 7pm, blending world-class circus, cabaret, comedy, live music, glamour and physical artistry in the heart of Melbourne.
There are circuses and then some. And then there is La Ronde, which has just opened at Sydney’s Grand Electric Ballroom.
This gem of a production from Brisbane-based producers Strut and Fret has been doing the rounds of Australia for most of the year, presenting cabaret-style circus at its purest.
Stripped of the artifice of an overarching narrative and flashy set-ups, La Ronde presents itself with little more than a large mirror ball on a 360-degree stage, surrounded by tight seating that ensures an intimacy between performers and audience.
Each performer has honed their skills to a level not seen outside of the world’s best big tent shows or Las Vegas-style stages, and brings the art back into an often tired and corny format.
Drawn from a local and international cast, the emphasis is on showcasing each performer’s skills up close, a luxury not experienced in larger arenas such as Cirque du Soleil.
The show starts with the svelte Dominican Republic disco diva Geniris Mena belting it out from atop the mirror ball, bringing her skills earned from The Lion King and Forever King of Pop to bear.
Looking like an escapee from Where’s Wally, biscuit-power uni-cyclist Sam Goodburn’s comedic antics only get better when he loses his pants, a situation that can only be rectified with the help pf an audience member. This precarious state of affairs gives a whole new meaning to a balls-up.
Giving a whole new meaning to hair extensions is hair hang/aerialist Zoe Marshall, who astounds with the feats that she performs while hanging from the roof of the Grand Electric by a hook inserted into her luxurious locks.
If you have seen hair-hanging performers before, wait until you witness the artistry of this National Institute of Circus Arts graduate.
Coming from a long line of Russian circus performers, Australian Danik Abishev is more at home on his hands than his feet. Perfecting this complex art started at the age of four and has taken him around the world to some of the most famous circus productions, including La Clique, LIMBO and L’Hotel.
Aussie Adam Malone simply stuns with his physical prowess, balancing in various positions on the Washington trapeze. This rare discipline involves intense concentration, strength and control, and Malone is one of the few in the world currently doing it, and in heels at that.
La Ronde opens on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 7pm at Spiegel Haus Melbourne and runs until January 27, 2027.
