360 ALLSTARS.
Whether you have a sporty kid or an arty kid, or multi interest little one in your life, 360 ALLSTARS fits the bill for family entertainment. Combining new disciplines of city circus, songs and action, slow sequences and frenetic ones, this show is designed to give the younger audience an exciting experience and to give the caregivers a way into conversations about visual aesthetics, performance excellence and, increasingly important, calculating risk.
As the music pumps up the audience is introduced to the team. With an Australian champion drummer and a beatboxer who won X Factor NZ one can expect it be loud. The music certainly adds dimension to the tricks we see and these high energy emcees can whip the mood upward with their ‘Give it up for …’ and calm it down to the lyrical for a spinning hoop with a soft smooth keyboard backing. During that first sequence with the roue Cyr the video display on three screens also adds mood to an already ethereal atmosphere.
However, the images are everpresent to maximise the thrill as the rest of the team bring on their individual skills. Graphics from graffiti to pretty purple geometric or an intercut skate park give extra edge to the excellence of the tricks. As well as the ring, basketball, bike and breakdance all fit seamlessly into a well-modulated show which includes a dance off which brings all the audience together to cheer their favourite. Favourites are the major discussion among the audience as it tumbles out after the 90 minutes of skilled acro and dance and music and circus.
More, though, is going on here than an merely an engaging urban circus show. ‘Let’s make some noise for the boys!’ In the sub-text of this show the all-male team are modelling some wonderful behaviour for the young people to take home. Small is good, big works too, shy is acceptable and boisterous ok. They care about and encourage each other and are happy in each other’s company. They obviously work hard and practise constantly to achieve this level of distinction. 360 ALLSTARS is such a positive watch.
‘We need to hear everyone, not just the children’. And the audience, young or old, claps and bops and sits back in awe as gravity is challenged by the endless methods of rotation on display and the 90 minutes flashes by.
4 stars ★★★★360 ALLSTARS
Sydney Opera House as part of the School Holidays Program
13-28 April 2019
Sydney Opera House
