Review: What Will Have Been
Image: What Will Have Been (image credit: Steady Jenny Photography, for Circa). Note that this is not a Creative Futures Photography image.
Circa is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the Brisbane premiere of its international hit What Will Have Been. Before the show, I wasn’t sure that three acrobats and one violinist could produce an experience that would hold the attention of the Playhouse Theatre audience; the QPAC Playhouse stage is an epic space, and I have seen many large theatrical works that have failed to rise to its challenge. I am delighted to say that the staging of this work was exceptional (Director and sound designer Yaron Lifschitz, with costume design by Libby McDonnell), where the lighting (lighting co-designers Jason Organ and Richard Clarke) drew the audience in to the more intimate moments, and cleverly framed the larger and faster moves. The soundtrack is an inspired blend of baroque-mixed-with-contemporary-rock-electronica, where the on-stage performances by Rebecca Seymour (Violin) blend almost seamlessly with the acrobatics. The music appears to inspire the movements, which is seen most powerfully when the circus artists lock eyes with the violinist.
The acrobats are the stars of this exceptional show that features incredible hand balance by Daniel O’Brien, a fluid and moving straps solo (and acrobatic ‘dance’) by Kimberley Rossi, and quite amazing strength work by Zac Stephens. In just over 60 minutes, the performers demonstrated their mastery of circus arts to create moments of beauty, strength, power, fear, tenderness, pain, humour, wistfulness, joy, and connection. All that it is to be human, presented as a sequence of what appeared to be superhuman moves.
There were so very many impressive moments in this show, but three examples may just explain why I strongly recommend What Will Have Been. Firstly, the canvas straps work by Rossi was almost literally breathtaking: we appeared to be collectively holding our breath, as every twist and snap of the straps was heard loud and clear across the auditorium. Secondly, the many ‘duets’ between O’Brien and Stephens were playful and highly-competitive—with moments that included their tumbling flips and smashing into each other, plus some quite astonishing strength and balance on the trapeze. Stephens and O’Brien also produced some incredibly creative moments of tumbling and twisting when connected by first a large loop (around their bodies), and then by a very small rubber loop around their necks. Thirdly, the amazing work on the handstand canes. O’Brien’s tender romancing of the canes, which built up to powerful and controlled hand balance, was an impressive demonstration of O’Brien’s mastery of this piece of equipment. And the duet and moves by Stephens and Rossi, as they turned and embraced while still balanced on the canes, evoked the fragility, twists, and turns inherent in all close human relationships.
Promotional material for the show refers to Lifschitz taking inspiration for the show in grammatical and philosophical ‘future perfect,’ where “an unstable sense of a presence […] translates to three acrobats searching for balance in a topsy turvy world, through a sublime display of interlocking bodies, awe-inspiring movement, and pure physical beauty.” At the end of the 65-minute performance I wanted to turn round and see it all again. But the loving embrace of the three performers, as the opening night show finished, reminded me that these incredible artists are human…and might just need to catch their breath!
What Will Have Been is a gem of show; if you have the chance to see it, then go. Don’t worry if you think circus ‘isn’t your thing’. What Will Have Been is a thought-provoking piece of dance, theatre, music, circus, and strength. If circus were to be a competitive sport at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, it’s likely that Brisbane would be coming away with the gold medals. Brisbane-based world class circus groups—such as Circa, Casus Creations and Flipside—continue to spoil local audiences with truly exceptional shows. I can’t wait to see what will happen next.
Verdict: Highly recommend. I was enthralled, moved, and occasionally astounded by Circa’s What Will Have Been.
Audience information: What Will Have Been (13-17 March 2024), Playhouse Theatre, QPAC, South Bank, QLD 4101. 65 minutes (no interval), 12+ recommendation. Tickets $59-69, plus $7.20 transaction fee ($39 for school groups).
The attended the 13 March 2024 opening night performance.
A version of this review first appeared at Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane..