Theodor Herzl to present ‘no animal’ circus
More than 60 Theodor Herzl High School pupils are set to create a live circus with no animals at the school’s sports field from Sunday evening.
The show is inspired by the Cirque du Soleil theatre entity and the widening movement of circuses without animals.
Cirque Spectacular will run until Thursday March 14.
The show, under the direction of Robin Williams and Chireen Ferreira, will see a full circus with human entertainers instead of animals, as a stand against animal cruelty.
It will be staged in the Big Top on the Theodor Herzl High School sports field.
The circus is driven by the two directors’ passion for the fight against animal cruelty, Williams said.
“The animals in captivity are not living the life they should be living and, for the longest time, we’ve felt that a stands needs to be taken against animals in captivity,” Williams said.
Guests can enjoy entertainment through an array of activities including hip hop dancing, physical theatre, ballet, the Tango and music.
“When the principal let us know that he was looking for a show that would involve as many students as possible, this idea came like a flash to us; we thought, why not do a circus without animals to show that it can be done?” Williams said.
A cast of eight members including Zuki Kaliko, Sibongiseni Beja, Louise Daniel, Emma Kirsten, Dina Levin, Kalyn du Plessis, Dylan du Plessis and Serena Escola will perform star turns, with Kaliko (clown) and Beja (ring mistress) set to take the audience through a journey of control and servitude, selfbelief, dreams, to reality, disappointment and brokenness until they arrive at a place of selfworth and acceptance.
More than 60 pupils take part and two guest stars, Kasvia von Memerty and Gemma Barnard, will also add flavour to the evening’s activities.
The school has hired a big top and is creating an 8m circus ring with the audience to be seated at tables around the ring.
“The show almost has a cabaret feel as the audience will be sitting at tables and enjoying their supper while being entertained,” Williams said.
Guests can bring their picnic baskets with food and drinks and there will be a coffee bar at the venue.
Cirque Spectacular runs from March 10 to 14 at Theodor Herzl High School at 7.30pm. Tickets cost R100 and R80 for pensioners and block bookings of 20 or more.
Contact Angela Kennedy on (041) 581-4244 for bookings.