Mashreqbank in association with Dubai Shopping Festival host Circus Oz during DSF2006

Colourfully clad clowns in the most bizarre of clothing and colours, human cannon balls, stunts on wheels, gymnasts, all in all an experience that takes you back to your childhood...But what about a circus that defies convention, a bunch of performers who go the extreme to add that touch of eccentricity, of daring, grace and sheer cockiness to the act. Where you would just lose yourself in the daredevilry and cheek of artistes as they bring in new innovations? Well then, the Circus Oz should be that Mashreqbank and Dubai Shopping Festival joint event you were looking forward to. An act that twists standard techniques with innovative shows presented with the unique Aussie sense of humour.

The Circus Oz, from Down Under, has today redefined the contemporary circus scene with its major innovations in the field of Physical Theatre. Goofy, funny, and most often simply electrifying, the company's prime contribution has been the way it showcases theatrically re-framing of character-based circus skills, devised by the performers themselves in association with a number of directors.

For the first time in their 29 year history, Australia's premier contemporary circus, Circus Oz will perform in Dubai, during the DSF 2006. Coming direct from a tour including London, Milton Keynes, Brighton, Nottingham, Cardiff, St. Polten and Hamburg, Circus Oz brings a larrikin Aussie sense of humour, which will appeal to children and adults alike. Two hours of breathtaking, death-defying stunts, awe inspiring acrobats, sparkling comedy and a live band that'll have the house begging for more.

So what does the Circus Oz have to offer visitors at DSF 2006. According to Circus Oz artistic director Mike Finch, "Aerobics is being taught with hula-hoops, our popcorn seller gets squeezed inside her popcorn machine, our Strongwoman distorts reality using only her muscles, we play the 1812 overture with a huge cannon and living ammunition and finally we explore Question Time in the House of Reps using backflips, pratfalls, backstabbing and human pyramids. Muscles ripple, rigging explodes, politicians tumble, singers fall from the roof, the Mickey is taken and the band rocks," says Mike informing that this first of their outing here will be liked immensely by everyone in Dubai.

Circus Oz was founded in late 1977 as an amalgamation of two already successful Australian groups, Soapbox Circus and the New Circus. The principles that were the heart of the original Circus Oz philosophy are still reflected in their performances today: Collective ownership and creation, gender equity, a uniquely Australian signature and team-work. The founding thought of the Circus Oz was a contemporary take on the traditional circus by adding elements of rock'n'roll, popular theatre and satire. A thought process that visualised an event that was funny, irreverent and spectacular, a celebration of the group as a bunch of multi-skilled individual women and men, rather than a hierarchy of stars. A fresh and original voice in the circus arena that made its international presence felt almost immediately.

Circus Oz attractions at DSF 2006 include: The Fire Act, wherein performers take literally anything and everything that may burn and set it alight!; Tim Coldwell's signature Roofwalk act, a surreal reinvention of the old act that featured a human with magnets walking across a ceiling by Tim, the only founding member of Circus Oz still performing with the company, is a member of the Board of Directors, the Executive in Charge of Production, acrobat, clown and trumpeter with Circus Oz. He also, from time to time, plays the role of tent designer, props engineer, inventor and director.; The Pole Act, an adaptation of a Chinese twin pole strength display; BMX Bike Act with a bike on fire, inside a wheel and what not; Bricksmash where Circus Oz Strong Woman Mel Fyfe places three concrete slabs on her stomach and then breaks them with a sledge hammer!

Trapeze, an act featuring a static trapeze featuring two women, amazing strength and grace; Hula Hoops with a hilarious turn on the standard Hoops routine; the Ninja Sword Swallow, an amazing act of skill and control; Popcorn contortion, wherein an expert contortionist gets into the popcorn machine before the audiences disbelieving eyes; Swaypole with a pole that sways...well, quite a lot!; Clowns who literally take over the stage; The Wheel with some innovative interpretations to it; Sosi's Balls, with the Circus Oz's Ethiopian Gymnast; Ali's Cloudswing - a graceful swinging routine on a U-shaped rope connected across the ceiling; Tennis with Captain Frodo as he bends, contorts and dislocates himself through two tennis racquets; Politicians Balances - a hilarious ensemble act that pushes a satirical finger at the House of reps.; Flying Bass - a wildly imaginative double bass act that turns into a duel for the skies; Group Bike - an ensemble act with 11 people on one bike.

Circus Oz has to date performed in over 26 different countries, across five continents to over two million people, breaking box office records at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and representing Australia at scores of international festivals. Like the eclectic band of performers who make up the team, the locations of their performances too have defied seriousness, for they have performed on 42nd Street, at the Tivoli Gardens, in a refugee camp in the West Bank, in indigenous communities in the Australian desert and in a glass opera house in the Brazilian rainforest. Along the way they have translated parts of the show into scores of languages, from Hindi and Japanese to Danish.

Over the years, the Circus Oz had added many a new facet to its acts, like a major skills development phase through intensive training with acrobats from China's Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe. Many of the skills learnt over the years from the Chinese, such as pole-climbing and hula-hoop, continue to flavour the show, albeit reinterpreted and presented in a distinctly Circus Oz style.

The overall tenor of the performance has remained consistent over the years. There are usually 11 to 13 performers (normally with at least two specialised musicians) who present an intimate spectacle of unrelenting energy, humour, multi-skill playing, surreal imagery, grace and strength, fully integrated with a live and original musical score. Circus Oz continues at the forefront of international contemporary circus. Its performances today are as distinctive and dynamic as its touring programme - the critically-acclaimed sell-out seasons on Broadway being followed by successful tours of small Australian regional towns.

So get ready, put on that disbeliever's cap and head for the Circus that will defy your preconceived idea of a circus, and yes, be ready to be amazed.

Circus Oz will be held for three days only from Wednesday, January 11 to Friday, January 13, 2006, at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre Hall 3. Tickets are available from all Virgin Megastores, selected Hallmark outlets in the UAE and on line at www.boxofficeme.com and www.itptickets.com. For more information you can contact 050-8805073 or Ahlan Dubai on 600545555.

The Dubai Shopping Festival 2006 runs between January 4 and February 4, 2006. For further information visit DSF website.