How Circa went from edgy Brisbane circus to a major Australian performing arts company with a global reputation

Warning: seeing a performance by Brisbane circus company Circa may cause feelings of inadequacy, fear and awe.

Take their 2019 show Humans, where Circa artistic director Yaron Lifschitz and his ensemble asked: “How much can we take as humans? How much weight can we carry? Who can we trust to support our load?”

The acrobats’ bodies provided many contradictory and humorous answers — whether they were tumbling at the last possible moment, ascending to great heights balanced only on each other’s heads, or simply making fantastical, unexpected shapes with their bodies.

The performers were pushing the limits of what human bodies and circus could do; instead of elaborate costumes, apparatus and sets, this is something closer to contemporary…