Why Russian?
"When I was growing up the Russians were known for the circus, the Great Moscow Circus and I liked the exotic nature sound of it but really the only thing Russian is the venue, the vodka and one of the performers!"
So says the enigmatic Donna Lorenz, the organiser and mastermind of the event. Donna is Donnamatrix... the Mistress of Ceremonies and no she is not a dominatrix, she is a "Lady of Many Dimensions" [Donna = Lady | Matrix = Dimensions].
Most certainly she is. Stunning, tall and elegant and calm, the kind of calmness that you know stems from depth and gravitas.
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| Donnamatrix | Image by John Dunn |
"Last year was a bit of a burst of action, a call to friendship arms so to speak... Last year my friend Bree Taylor was diagnosed with cancer and we wanted to help raise funds to support her integrated medicine treatment. She felt that traditional medicine wasn’t for her. And of course medicare doesn’t cover the cost of alternative medicine..."
"I brainstormed with a mutual friend to see what we could do for Bre, how we could help. In a former life I was an Event Manager and that's what I thought! Let's put on an event! I had seen the burlesque festival and got inspired plus I knew someone who did burlesque poker nights and he knew people in rockabilly bands and also knew some circus performers!"
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| Zeil Sprite | Image by John Dunn |
“In retrospect, we did it in only 7 weeks, quite amazing but it was obviously meant to happen. And it’s fantastic that it’s part of the Sydney Fringe this year.”
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| Angie Thompson | Image by Johnn Dunn |
“Bre loved the night. I was thinking about doing it again this year the very weekend Bre passed away… but our mutual friends encouraged me to do it again and I had Bre’s blessing before she passed awaybut what really validated doing it again, was that a couple of weeks after Bre passed away we received an email from the people who run OrphFund.
They told us how supportive Bre had been of the charity to the extent that they are now building an arts and music school at an orphanage in Sierra Leone, in her name.”
“So that gave us a place to channel our efforts and allows us to put on another event of bigger and better proportions. It all came together.”
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| Edwina Blush | Image by John Dunn |
“It was such a surprising success last year. The kaleidescope of people, performers, audience… it was such a privilege. The performers were all so generous and let’s face, most of the time performers are a charity case of their own (which is why this year they’re going to get paid a litle). Only one artist knew Bre, only 2 knew me, people were just so willing to give of their time…”
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| Veronica Bloom | Image by John Dunn |
“The circus was also a great launch pad for many performers… so many things have grown from the first show, we had established artists but also a lot of new performers. That’s what I really like. The idea of it being a place for performers to try new work or emerging artists to be thrown in to the ring.”
More than the event is the reason the event is happening… the arts and music school being built by Orphund. Not just what it meant to Bre and what it means to her memory but also what it means to the children at the orphanage in Siera Leone."
“That’s the part that is so phenomenal…the way that Steve Argent, the founder of Orphund describes it to me, these kids have lost their parents, often in front of them and it’s enough for them to have this orphanage, a roof over their heads and the love and care they have there but… no one teaches them arts and music at all, there’s none of that expression for them to enjoy.”
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| Image courtesy of OrphFund |
“It’s a wonderful way to bring something in to their lives, so that they can have a a little less suffering and more creative expression for them to grow in to and who know where they might go as performers in the future. So this show, this fabulous circus is not just bringing something fabulous to the night and those who are a part of it but for the kids themselves.”
“We want to send over instrument, art supplies, we want artists and musicians to bring over left over and unused things and have these shipped over in November to the school. Everything from a tambourine to guitars, even if they don’t have strings, anything, everything that you think can be turned in to something than an orphan in Sierra Leone could use creatively.”
Will the circus be a regular event?
“Hmmm, maybe an annual event. I’m seeing what happens with it this time and putting my love and energy in to this event and what comes of it and focus on building the school, so poignant for the nature of the event as well who Bre was. And focus on getting the numbers we need to raise money to support the school.”
“That was the idea of getting it in to the Fringe Festival, to open it up to a broader audience. Perhaps next year we will do the Melbourne Fringe!”
“Many of the performers from last year are back, it feels like we’ve got a family vibe going… and this time, I’ve had the joy of people coming to me and asking me if they could perform! It’s really lovely!”
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| Paloma Negra | Image by John Dunn |
“..and we encourage audience participation! Dressing up! We couldn’t believe how many people got in to the spirit of it all! And we hope they’re going to do it again."
What can the Sydney Fringe audience expect?
“Life is a circus, we’re all performers… hopefully the show encourages people to get ‘loose’ and encourages creativity. I’m really excited about what they’re going to see and I think they’ll see a kaleidescope of life. One thing I do know, it will be like nothing they’ve seen before.”
- Friday September 21st
- CASH ONLY at event!
- Doors open 7pm / Show starts 8pm - 11.30 (including intermission) / Close Midnight
- Russian Nights Club, 140 Bondi Road, Bondi
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