Duck Pond is no ordinary adaptation of Swan Lake – it’s a complete reinvention of the classic Tchaikovsky ballet into a contemporary circus performance. The show is equally poetic, exhilarating and humorous. The familiar storyline remains in parts, but everything else transports us to surprising new horizons.
Instead of ballet slippers and tutus, we are greeted with modern and playful costumes bringing the characters to life. Feathers, glitter, wings, duck feet and giant drapes, all props play their part in creating an enchanting atmosphere.
Barefoot acrobats take the audience on a captivating journey through a mix of contortion, trapeze, silks and daring lifts. Moments of grace emerge from the intricate and poetic choreographies; leaps feel like bird flights and balances like suspended moments in time. You will find yourself gasping for air as the performers are being literally thrown across the stage.
The show doesn’t just retell Swan Lake – it riffs on it. The ever-changing lighting design and cleverly remixed soundtrack add another layer of magical modernity. Visual metaphors of black swans, white swans and cheeky ducks guide the audience through the tragic yet amusing story of a Prince, an Ugly Duckling, a Black and White Swan all intertwined in unlikely love interests.
The jaw-dropping techniques used throughout the show by the acrobats demonstrate a mesmerising versatility, shifting from silks, trapeze and pyramids in a beautifully crafted choreography.
The audience is left suspended somewhere between the stage and an imaginary world full of elegance. Everything is pushed beyond expectations, and a twist in the narrative pulls us even further into the circus side of the show. For a moment we forget the story and are swept off our feet, taken to a completely different space for a moment, only to be thrown back into a spectacular ending only moments after.
Duck Pond is a delightful contemporary version of Swan Lake, reinventing it with heart, humour and breathtaking circus skills. A performance you’ll definitely want to see again!
Circa – Duck Pond was performed at The Playhouse, AANT Centre, from 21 to 22nd August as part of Darwin Festival.
BY CLEM LALLEMENT