By: Crimson Cookie

CC: Being a newly developed circus troupe, was it difficult to break away from Flying Fruit Fly Circus and form your own group – A4 Circus Ensemble?
ZR: No, the Fruit Flies taught me so much, being apart of the FFFC simply made it easier and exposed me to all the amazing opportunities out there!

CC:  With so many amazing and talented circus performers out there, does it feel overwhelming at times when creating performances that need be more theatrical and more thrilling then the competition?
ZR: Sometimes. Though, you can’t think like this or you will always put your self down. Instead, I use other performers as inspirations and motivation.

CC: What inspired you to create a performance based on Dostoevsky’s ‘White Nights’? Did any of you feel a personal connection to the story?
ZR: A number of things, firstly, because DownPour’s creative development was only 3 weeks long, we felt like we needed a starting point and something to draw inspiration from in order to have 50 minutes of material. Also, the story White Nights has really clear and powerful images, which we felt we could physically portray.

CC: Your physical performance skills are extraordinary, I’m sure fans are dying to know how long does it take to perfect certain acts?
ZR: I don’t think you can ever be perfect! As an artist, I am always pushing to be better. Though, I have been training foot juggling for at least 8 years and I still have more practicing to do!

CC: What does it take to endure such physical performances? Is there psychological training as well as the physical?
ZR: Yes. Though, practicing and rehearsing gets your body ready and use to the physical impact doing this also helps with the psychological impact. Such as, fear etc.

CC: What is the next move for A4 Circus Ensemble?
ZR: A4 is going to be performing at The Adelaide Fringe Festival in the Garden and hopefully we will be heading on tour around Victoria in September. Another exciting development has been working with Annie Davey (director). We are so lucky to be working with her - she is an asset to the Company!

CC: Have any of you suffered an injury as a result of your training and/or performances
ZR: Not really. Through out my time at fruit flies I have had a few ankle injuries though nothing too serious and hopefully nothing to come!

CC: Any advice that you can give to aspiring circus/theatrical performers?
ZR: Work hard, train hard, network, be nice, be organized and search for opportunities, they won’t all come to you, you have to find them!

Zoe Robbins performs at Red Bennies in A4 Circus - DownPour most evenings between 23 September & 6 October as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival. For event info go to the event section.