Circa’s DUCK POND flew into the Concert Hall for only four days before soaring off for a tour around the country. The event is part of the Sydney Opera House year-round Contemporary Performance . The Program’s curator Ebony Bott says: “DUCK POND perfectly encapsulates the programming we love to present – a contemporary twist on a classic everyone knows and loves. We are thrilled to welcome Circa to the Concert Hall and send some feathers flying!” The Sydney Opera House program follows a sold-out season at Royal Festival Hall in London and is part of a tour which includes 17 centres across Australia.
If you’ve missed it in Sydney, travel anywhere to see it! It is marvellous, magic and magnificent. Founded only twenty-two years ago in Brisbane, Circa is now one of the world’s great performing arts companies because it hasn’t lost any of its Aussie cheekiness. Maybe that’s why the company has toured to 45 countries, won rave reviews and had sold-out shows in six continents. Circa fuses circus, dance, theatre, acrobatics and HUMOUR.
DUCK POND merges two classic stories, Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling. You wouldn’t want to adapt Swan Lake and upset the purists unless you were a genius. Clearly Duck Pond’s Director Yaron Lifschitz is. Working with the Circa creatives, the team has created physicality and jaw-dropping acrobatics, laced with cheeky humour. Feats of strength and bravery are impeccably balanced with fluid moments of artistry and grace, a true showcase of the diverse skills that have earned Circa its outstanding reputation.
Lifschitz says “DUCK POND is truly iconoclastic – it has sophistication, beauty, humour, silliness, a classic good versus evil storyline, everything you want to see in an enchanting live show. It also has a stunning array of awe-inspiring acrobatic languages, showcasing the best of this brilliant creative ensemble.”
The dual Swan Lake-Ugly Ducking story is the first part of the performance. There’s more to come… but let’s not spoil the surprise. We’re not giving out even a hint!
Composer and sound designer Jethro Woodward’s contribution is a key part of Duck Pond. Libby McDonnell’s costumes are wonderful, particularly the comic yellow sweepers’ giant trousers.
DUCK POND is co-commissioned by QPAC and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, The Art House Wyong, Frankston Arts Centre, HOTA – Home of the Arts, Merrigong Theatre Company and Orange Civic Theatre.
DUCK POND is just having a short season at the Sydney Opera House playing between the 9th and 12th January 2026.
TOUR DATES: Melbourne (Princess Theatre, Jan 14-25) and the Gold Coast (HOTA, Mar 6-7) before commencing a regional tour of WA in late March.
Performers: Asha Colless, Maya Davies, Jordan Hensley-Twartz, Lucy Hunterland, Gerramy Marsden, Anisa Monsour, Clara Scudder-Davis, Sophie Secombe, Tristan St John, Anais Stewart-Long, Adam Strom, Darby Sullivan, Rose Symons, Harley Timmermans
DUCK POND runs for approx. 75 minutes without interval.
PHOTOGRAPHY by Daniel Boud
