Hoopla Festival 2012

Overview

Tongue in a mousetrap? Breathing fire? Spinning on aerial acrobatic ropes? Roll up, Roll up: The circus is here! No, not that crappy one up the street where the fairy floss machine is about all on offer, pitched to a warbled music-box soundtrack; this is an amazing long weekend full of silly, silly antics, mind-boggling acrobatics, circus stunts that make you check your vision, awe-inspiring aerial acts, jaw-dropping jugglers, sickening sword-swallowers, comedy to thaw your heart and more.

The one and only Hoopla — Australia's biggest annual circus, sideshow and street theatre festival — is coming to Darling Harbour and dazzling Sydney for five days over the Easter long weekend. This year's festival features three sensational international artists plus some pretty freaky Australian acrobats.

The Chipolatas (UK) present Gentlemen of the Road: These guys will wow audiences with their unique and high-energy performance presenting unparalleled physical feats and buzzing circus skills backed with live squeezebox and break beats.

Leandre and La Tal (Spain) present Demodes: Gotta love clowns. Who on Earth is afraid of clowns? Especially not those wound up in a tragicomedy about three of them being lost, cast out by a changing world and ... told in classic clown language.

Becky Hoops (Canada): Hula-hoops are ubiquitous, but still, few can perfect this art. Becky Hoops will not only have her audience feeling like inadequate hoopists but in stitches with her absurd characters and her many crazy anecdotes.

The Little Red Trapeze Company present Ready for Takeoff: Soaring high above the ground, these daring acrobats will fly, flip and float through the air with incredible precision and timing. Beautiful acrobatic balancing, hilarious slapstick comedy and truly heart-stopping stunts.

As dusk approaches, get your ticket to one of the hottest shows in the performing arts scene with sexy vaudeville and freakazoid sideshow acts in the Big Top. So go run, play and frolic all day and night at Hoopla. Daytime performances go from noon-5pm everyday of the long weekend, and after-dark shows from 6-10pm. All outdoor entertainment is free, and this year indoor events can be pre-booked online. Woot!