Australian Circus Performers Robbie Curtis and Lizzie McRae Host Masterclass Following Their BRAVO! Performance of “A Bee Story”
Robbie Curtis and Lizzie McRae have had their fair share of experience performing in multiple arenas, from circus, dance and theatre to flute performance and acrobatics. With their show, "A Bee Story," they have blended these elements together to create a joyful piece that is accessible to all. Prior to their BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts Series performance of “A Bee Story,” Curtis and McRae held a masterclass with Theatre and Media Arts (TMA) students. The pair shared the inspiration for “A Bee Story,” their process for creating new acts and advice for young professionals trying to make it in the theatre industry.
Curtis and McRae work together as co-performers and co-founders of the Australian company Arc Circus, a “multifaceted international performing arts company” that considers themselves “a kaleidoscope of circus, dance and theatre.” Curtis has worked for companies including Cirque du Soleil, Cirque de Paname and the Australian Ballet. McRae has performed internationally with Arc Circus.
When devising a new act, the pair likes to focus on their motto, “try to be high art, but not high brow.” McRae shared how they strive to create theatre that is both emotionally moving and accessible to all audiences, regardless of age or background. To achieve that, they combine elements like gorgeous Shakespearean-inspired costumes with humorous clowning acts to create what Curtis called “a joyous story.”
The entirety of their props and costumes can be packed down into four travel bags, allowing the pair to bring their act to rural communities and places that would not normally experience a live circus show. “We don't have any speaking in our shows on purpose, because we originally designed them with the idea of touring internationally,” McRae shared. Audiences do not need to understand English to enjoy the show, and even deaf communities can participate.
“A Bee Story” was inspired by Australian wildfires, with the idea of sharing the common experience of a natural disaster to tell a story of sustainability, Earth’s ecosystem and friendship. McRae said, “The idea was to create something that would spark a conversation among people, rather than shove a narrative down their throats.”
When asked about how to thrive in the theatre industry, Curtis shared that having a variety of skills and being open to learning new ones has helped him create a sustainable career. “I have worked with opera companies, ballet companies, physical theatre companies,” he said. “I have been able to do a lot of stuff and always be employed.”
McRae shared how diligence and reliability can make as much of an impact on your career as talent. She said, “I have worked with so many acrobats now, in different contexts, and every single time, I favor the person who is not as confident as an acrobat, but who is reliable, shows up and is nice to work with, over the excellent acrobat that might flake out on us.”
Curtis ended the masterclass by sharing how a career in theatre is like juggling — you can’t let the fear of dropping a ball stop you from trying. “Something that has helped me is not being afraid of failing. I started with juggling and it is the heart of failure. You are literally dropping the balls on the floor all day, every day, and picking up, picking up, picking up. That really is such a good metaphor for a long career in the arts. You have to take your time, be very familiar with failure and just keep turning up.”