Australian circus powerhouse Casus Creations return to Edinburgh with Apricity

The dictionary definition of the word ‘apricity’ is “the warmth of the sun in winter”. The Australian “genre-less” Casus Creations have taken on the task of portraying this specific sensation on-stage, and the show lives up to its namesake. They will grace the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with their new show this summer after performing around the world and being nominated for Best Circus in the Melbourne Fringe Awards 2023. 

We spoke to creator and performer Jesse Scott to find out more about the creative process behind the show.

Casus Creations are known for being ‘circus with feelings’. What inspires you to create shows like this?

We have always wanted our shows and stories to resonate deeply with our audiences, and over the 13 years we have been creating and touring our works we have come to realise that the best way of doing this is through honesty. Casus does not shy away from letting the audience in on our true feelings – circus hurts, circus is hard but at the same time circus is full of excitement and happiness especially when you are doing it with people you care for and trust with your life. 

Ultimately we draw our inspiration from the human experience itself and then put some awesome circus tricks on top of that. This makes circus with feeling.

Is it important to challenge traditional gender roles through art? Should theatre entertain, educate, or both?

By performing alternative narratives and celebrating different representations as Casus Creations always strive to do we can contribute to a more inclusive and diverse understanding of what gender doesn’t have to be. Circus has always done this by pulling in a colourful and quirky range of people but sadly a lot of the time this is not seen on stage due to the typical roles assigned to performance. 

Casus Creations has always made a point of breaking this rule. Women can be as strong as the strongest man, men can be as beautiful as the most beautiful female aerialist and two men can dance together with love and passion. Engaging stories are a great way of exploring deeper themes and promoting dialogue about social issues while simultaneously entertaining.

How does the music contribute to the overall ambience and storytelling of Apricity?

There is no spoken dialogue in our shows to assist the audience in their understanding. Our only tools are our bodies, our circus apparatus, our connection with one another and the music we choose. Apricity is our newest show – having performed two seasons in Australia and a sold out run in the USA we were happy to discover audiences were leaving with a massive smile on their faces and also with the question “where can I find the soundtrack for this show.”  

What aspects of Apricity do you find most fulfilling, or inspiring? What’s your favourite moment in the show?

Casus Creations have toured to over 30 countries in the past 13 years with shows as intimate as 2 performers and as monumental as a cast of 217. Being able to continue to perform our work is what is most fulfilling. I personally love being able to do all of this with my husband and partner of 16 years also co-founder of Casus Creations. 

In all our performances we aspire to show the love we feel for each other on stage in soft, masculine beauty. One of my favourite moments in Apricity is an acrobatic dance that we perform together followed by a never-before-seen aerial manoeuvre. Pushing boundaries and inspiring joy in people never gets old. 

What message or experience do you hope to leave the audience with through Apricity?

It’s always such a scary thing to create a new work especially when you are asking your ensemble to pour their heart and soul into it. One of the most inspiring things about this show is the joy it brings to both the performers and the people watching. We are living in tumultuous times where hope can be hard to see. Apricity, like it’s meaning, brings warmth in dark times.

Apricity will be performed at 3pm in Assembly George Square Gardens (Palais du Variété) from 1st – 25th August (Not 12th or 19th)

Booking link: https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/521-apricity