December 27, 2023

Concert Hall Sydney Opera House  December 21, 2023

Reviewed by Andrew Isaacson

“Life is a circus.” 

Ringmaster David Williamson and the rest of the cast brought a packed Concert Hall back in time to 1903 on Dec. 21. They are spreading Christmas cheer in Sydney from now until Dec. 29. 

Circus 1903 has returned to the Sydney Opera House, where the circus first premiered back in 2016. The circus previously had residencies in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and London. It features an original score by Evan Jolly, who also composed The Crown on Netflix and the Aquaman movie. The costumes were designed by Angela Aaron, who also worked on Cirque de Soleil’s Mad Apple.

It was a special performance that audience members of all ages can adore and there were countless laughs and gasps throughout the evening. 

I was blown away by all the performances from the evening including Yani Stoyanov and Valeri Tsvetkov balancing off of each other and Francois Borie juggling bowling pins. The performers flying on the trapeze and jumping up and down on the teeterboard was staggering. The entire cast is incredibly gifted and talented, and had the audience applauding them for their incredible acts. 

Significant Object, the puppeteer masterminds behind the horses for the hit show War Horse, once again designed the elephants, Queenie and Peanut. They both stole the show along with the puppeteers who controlled the movements of the animals. 

But the performance would have not been what it was without Williamson. He had the audiences laughing nonstop and loved how interactive he was with the crowd. 

Williamson shared his story about how he pretended to feed his puppet racoon at a restaurant in Sydney when the waiter reminded him that live animals weren’t allowed inside. He then smashed the racoons head, which he demonstrated on stage for the audience. 

Williamson even made the night more special for countless children and their parents by bringing them onstage. One of the stunts even led to one of the children pieing their father in the face and sent one of the children home with an elephant made out of a balloon named “Popcorn.” 

What I also loved about Williamson is how he educated the children on life while they were on stage including how life can be chaotic or a “circus.”

It’s no wonder the Daily Express described this circus as a combination of “The Greatest Showman” and “War Horse.” Williamson is the greatest showman in the opera house for nine days and the horses really make the performance come to life. 

Circus 1903 is the perfect holiday and end of year treat for Sydney. The circus performances were astonishing for the Americans who first watched them in 1903 and the same emotions were felt over a century later in Australia.

The entire cast deserved the standing ovation they received at the end.