If you thought circus was just funny clowns, stunning aerial acrobatics and bizarre characters, think again as NICA, (National Institute of Circus Arts), based in Prahran, has been entertaining and wowing audiences, and also reinventing the circus wheel for decades.
"Setting the standard for the spectacular", their recent show, Raven Mad (1 to 3 April), as part of this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival, is an example of what happens when a great idea from a local community arts organisation meets with Council, and voila, a successful collaboration is in the making. Many joined the NICA crew at Prahran Square for the free dazzling, live performances that delighted the crowd.
Raven Mad, directed by Mike Finch and designed by Emily Barrie, got to see the light of day via a Stonnington arts and culture grant. And, if you were lucky enough to see it, you would have experienced an event that featured an extraordinary range of hilarious and jaw-dropping circus and performance tricks… an all-ages comic street-circus battle of boundless energy and amazing skills.
"Raven Mad was aimed squarely at the broadest possible all-ages audience, this was a shared celebratory, spectacular and comic event in an unexpected outdoor setting," said Melenie, NICA's creative producer.
"We're thrilled to have worked with Council to bring circus out there to our Stonnington community and to give this show the love, light and support it needed," she added.
In a nutshell, the story line goes something like this… Raven Mad is an absurd circus street-battle between the local bureaucratic ravens, and an eccentric family of hard-rubbish collectors… all unpacked from a blue box-trailer. Yes, that's it!
"Our arts and culture grants program helps grass roots, emerging and established local arts groups like NICA, get and passion projects over the line and in front of our local community. I'm delighted NICA were successful in receiving the grant to help them with the creation of Raven Mad," said Cr Scott, South Ward.
Crazy and hilarious is an understatement. Incredible, eccentric, spectacular and mesmerising is more like NICA!
NICA, masters of the credible incredible, is a training school for circus arts and performance, has been doing extraordinary circus feats for years, and offers circus classes, come and try days, holiday programs parties and amazing events.
You can start your own circus adventure in one of the best custom-built circus training facilities in Australia and improve fitness, coordination, strength and flexibility while building confidence in a fun and supportive environment. NICA offers educational courses like a bachelor degree and certificate IV and boasts some of the world's finest circus and performance practitioners.
Want to find out more?
Visit NICA or call 9214 6975
Located at Level 1, PC Building
39–59 Green, Prahran
