For the very first time, aerial silks will hang from the LabO theatre, thanks to Dr. Clara Brown and her assistants. These circus time-travellers are eager to climb tall heights to show off their latest souvenirs, including some unlikely artifacts that could get them in serious trouble with the Time Police. Their misadventures are chronicled in Extra-Temporal Exploits, a slapstick aerial circus comedy show from the Ottawa-based circus troupe Cirquonscient hitting the stage on January 14.
Cirqounscient performs Extra-Temporal Exploits. Photo provided.
Dr. Brown is an overconfident inventor of a time machine called the Warpfield Temporal Fluxionator. To her dismay, the organization responsible for enforcing time-travel rules, the Ministry of Temporal Affairs, want to stop her and her assistant in order to keep time running smoothly. But nothing with the Time Police is trouble-free.
Members of Cirquonscient. Photo: Andrew Alexander.
“They lose control of their exhibits when the Time Police show up, and hilarity ensues,” says Francisca Commisso, Cirquonscient’s communications representative, in an email to Apt613. “It’s full of silliness, sight gags, puns, and little pop cultural in-jokes that make it especially fun.”
“In late 2019 we created Cirquonscient to be an artist collective with the goal of bringing our unique style of vertical theatre to new audiences,” she adds. “We were invited to perform our Quantum Calamity show at a music and arts festival in Sligo, Ireland in August 2020. I think you can probably guess what happened then. However, the Wild Roots festival finally did get to happen in June 2022, and Extra-Temporal Exploits was the version of the show we brought, with changes made to appeal to a wider audience, as Quantum Calamity had very Ottawa-centric humour. We’re excited to bring this new show to Ottawa.”
Photo: Tom Skinner.
The story will be creatively performed by aerial artists, including elements like the Warpfield Temporal Fluxionator time machine. “There will be a duo lyra and silks performance by a pair of our best performers, Melissa Landry and Sophie Goulet,” said Commisso. “They are really spectacular to watch, and the routine they’ve been working on for A Night at the Gallery is probably one of the best I’ve seen them do. We’re very lucky to have them.”
In addition to the family-friendly day show, Cirquonscient will be hosting an 18+ evening event called A Night at the Gallery. That presentation will elaborate on an eclectic range of art history, from Egyptian sculpture to anime-style digital art. Performers will bring to life an art installation that inspired them. However, Commisso assures the audience that the show “is definitely more circus show than art history lecture.”
“We have a lot of fun in this show, and I hope that is infectious!”
Cirquonscient’s Extra-Temporal Exploits hits LabO theatre on January 14 at 1:30pm. General admission tickets are $22.23 on Eventbrite. Children four and under get in free of charge.
A Night at the Gallery is for 18+ audiences and takes place January 14 at 7pm. Tickets are $22.23 on Eventbrite.
