On Tuesday June 26, eleven acrobat-musicians from the celebrated French contemporary circus company Circa Tsuica will arrive in Oxford to get ready for their latest show. Now or Never is a collaboration with nine young musicians from the Oxfordshire Dixieland Jazz Bandand part of Offbeat, Oxford’s festival of new work.
Passers-by can watch as they erect their red and white Big Top on Oxpens Meadow then set up their circus village around it, reinventing circus traditions for the 21st century, as they start getting ready for the show.
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Spectacle “Maintenant ou jamais” de la fanfare Circa Tsuica, compagnie du Cheptel Aleikoum, en octobre 2017 à Paris.[/caption]
When the tent opens on Thursday June 28, the audience is invited in for Now or Never, an exhilarating fusion of stunning acrobatics and funky brass rhythms, where acrobats, musicians and audiences all play their part. As the party begins, the performers mingle with the crowd, making and sharing Breton crêpes, before they launch into a feast of music and circus.
The acrobat-musicians fly, fling and swing across the tent on trapezes, tightropes, Cyr wheels, trick bicycles, trampolines and seesaws. All the while, they play their thundering brass rhythms accompanied by nine young musicians from Oxfordshire Dixieland Jazz Band.
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Spectacle “Maintenant ou jamais” de la fanfare Circa Tsuica, compagnie du Cheptel Aleikoum, en octobre 2017 à Paris.[/caption]
On May 26, members of Circa Tsuica are coming to Oxford for the first of two workshops where they will teach the young musicians their role in the show.
The band’s leader Charles Lloyd said: “Joining forces with Circa Tsuica will be extremely fun and rewarding. The show Now or Never will push the musical skills of our students and encourage them to take risks on their life-long musical journey.
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Spectacle “Maintenant ou jamais” de la fanfare Circa Tsuica, compagnie du Cheptel Aleikoum, en octobre 2017 à Paris.[/caption]
“Two years ago, the Oxfordshire Dixieland Jazz Band worked with Circa Tsuica on Opus 7 at Oxford Playhouse. The gig had a major impact on our trombone player who is now making music his career.”
Rachel Clare, artistic director of producers Crying Out Loud, added: “We are excited to bring you a new circus experience to celebrate Circus250, a special circus anniversary. Combining the joy of French musical-circus with English Brass bands, Now or Never is going to be a memorable event, a chance to experience the best taste of culture from both sides of the channel.”
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Spectacle “Maintenant ou jamais” de la fanfare Circa Tsuica, compagnie du Cheptel Aleikoum, en octobre 2017 à Paris.[/caption]
Now or Never is part of Offbeat 2018, Oxford’s fringe festival of performing arts. Now in its third year, Offbeat festival brings boundary-pushing, genre-bending, thought-provoking performances to Oxford. Taking place across Oxford Playhouse and Arts at the Old Fire Station, this is an opportunity to be the first to catch brilliant new work across five different stages.
Tickets for Now or Never at Oxpens Meadowstart at £18 and are available from the Ticket Office on 01865 305305 or book online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com
