8 years ago I vowed to never again return to a circus.

Back then I had just been to a ramshackle circus performance in the middle of nowhere and witnessed some truly horrific treatment of wild animals who had found themselves caught up in a torturous merry-go-round, ‘entertaining’ a crowd of raucous patrons. It was a very sour experience and I figured that we didn’t really need that sort of entertainment anymore. With so much other good stuff out there, it just didn’t seem that the circus had very much to offer us in the modern era.

Boy, was I wrong. Hypocrite here, pleased to meet you.

A Modern South African Circus

In what was quite an emotional experience, I entered the Teatro for the first time in over two years wearing no mask to cover the giant smile on my face. It was the opening night of MOYA (Live) - a contemporary South African circus performance from the Zip Zap Circus Company. And I was in for a treat.

The show doesn’t rely on animals or cheap gimmicks to entertain, but rather focuses on the skill, strength, mobility, and performance antics of its 9 sensational stars. These young talents displayed such incredible dexterity with their bodies that there were moments of stunned silence before the applause - as we tried to take in what we were seeing.

Forget the clown make-up, silly pants, and tired cliches, we got to see the circus reimagined for a contemporary urban South Africa. It felt like it had a distinctive Cape Town feel throughout - without compromising on the world-class stunts and antics that make the show so special. Think Cirque du Soleil but on the streets of Nyanga.

Everything from the set design to the music to the storytelling pulls you into a performance that was as South African as it gets. Notably, it includes a number of original raps from performer Jason Barnard that were the perfect accompaniment to the magic we were seeing on stage. The show celebrates the diversity and magic of our country through music, dance, and feats of extraordinary talent that will leave you with your jaw on the floor.

First executed as a film during lockdown, the live version of the show brings a level of danger and precision that left me awestruck. From the acrobatics, to the silks, to the unicycling, to the juggling - there is more than enough to justify the standing ovation that they received. In fact, I think I may have pulled a hamstring just watching them. It’s a truly wonderful piece of theatre and it becomes even more meaningful when you learn about the stories behind the curtain.

What is Zip Zap Circus All About?

It was only when I started reading about Zip Zap Circus that I realized just what a cool organization it is. They were founded in Cape Town in 1992 and their mission is to inspire and empower young people to pursue their dreams and a life in the performing arts. Working with a diverse community of children from all backgrounds, their programs are free to all participants, thanks to the backing of a dedicated group of sponsors, including the government itself.

I’ve always believed that the stage can teach us so much more than we realize - and to give young people the chance to explore what can happen under those lights is worth its weight in gold. When you combine that with the fact that they’re reclaiming a traditional circus atmosphere with a truly African interpretation - it makes it all the more powerful.

I really do applaud their work and I hope that we see much more from this talented group of young performers. Excitingly, I believe they are off to France for a 3-month tour where they will carry all of us to show the rest of the world what a South African circus can look like. So don’t miss out on their brief run in Johannesburg - it will be finished before you know it.

Be sure to catch MOYA (Live) from 4-7 August 2022 at the Teatro, Montecasino. Get your tickets here.