Getting steamy under the big top

The Circus Oz Big Top settles in Birrarung Marr again this week for the subversive troupe’s latest extravaganza, a colourful romp through the world of steampunk.

Resident percussionist, performer and all-round musical whiz Bec Matthews was on hand to explain to the Star Observer what exactly that meant.

“Steampunk is an aesthetic, more than anything,” she said. “It asks, ‘What would have happened if the future had happened sooner?’

“So you’ve got a Victorian aesthetic with modern technology placed on top of it — like a laptop that’s been covered in rosewood and had typewriter keys placed on it. It’s a romantic vision of technology and the past,”

It’s an aesthetic that has informed previous Circus Oz productions, but “this is the first time we’ve really embraced it for a whole show”.

“It’s been great that we’ve known from the beginning that this is the world we’re in — sometimes these things get changed later in the piece. From day one, everyone has had a shared vision. I think it might feel like a more cohesive show in that regard.”

With its focus on an inventive outlook on fashion, culture, architecture and art, the steampunk subculture has always had a particularly strong queer following.

Matthews acknowledged that, in this more than other shows, she was able to be her own queer self.

“I feel like the costume and character allow me more to be my queer self. Sometimes in Circus Oz, I feel myself adopting a character that’s really child-orientated — clowny, with a big smile — because that’s what the show draws out of me. But this show allows me to be all facets of myself.”

‘Herself’ being a proud queer performer who spends much of her time on stage with her real-life partner, Sarah Ward (better known to many as the deranged diva Yana Alana). The pair joined Circus Oz at the same time, with Ward taking on the role of comic ringmaster in many productions.

“We actually don’t see much of each other in an average day — Sarah will be working on scripts with the director while I’m in another room writing music with the band — but we’ve been working together to perfect Sarah’s persona in the show.

“In your first year there, you really want to show you’re your own person, but after 12 months you relax, so we’ve decided to focus on one of our strong points, which is the fact that we collaborate so well.”

While they may not spend much time together at work, Matthews said having synced schedules was a godsend for two travelling circus performers trying to maintain a healthy relationship.

“We have a three-month tour booked in straight after this Melbourne season, and even though it is hard work, we almost look at it like a holiday. It’s a wonderful way to see different parts of Australia and the world, and the best part is we get to do it together.”

info: Circus Oz play at Birrarung Marr, June 22-July 17. www.circusoz.com