Made to Measure: NICA's 3rd Year Showcase

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Tue 22 Nov 2022 - Sat 26 Nov 2022

The graduate students of the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) never fail to impress with their showcase performances, and their current show - Made to Measure - is no exception.



Taking their inspiration from the world of high couture, the 12 students commenced their performance with a red carpet runway in the entrance foyer to the NICA building, to display their costumes and, to some extent, their personalities. It was a fun way to start the evening and perhaps shake away a few pre-performance nerves.



Once inside the theatre, the audience was quickly brought under the control of the mesmerising MC - the uber-talented and over-the-top glamorous Valerie Hex of YUMMY fame. Hex was the glue for this show, keeping things running smoothly, dishing out fashion tips and safety instructions, and ensuring there was never a break in continuity.

In Made to Measure, the audience was treated to a performance of traditional circus acts, including aerial ring, roue Cyr, handstands, trapeze, bounce juggling, corde lisse, Chinese pole and hula hoops.

Congratulations to all the graduates: Alanah Hill, Chelsea Hall, Chris Higgins, Grace Robins, Josh Duncan, Lily Akers, Linda Corazza, Michael McDonald, Rindi Harradine, Samantha Daly, Sophie Bohlsen and Zac Stephens, for putting on a wonderful show, and for all you've achieved in three very challenging (in many ways) years. I'm sure you are all destined for great things.

I always feel a bit hesitant to single out performers, because each displayed such a high degree of talent, physicality and fearlessness. There were many highlights, and I would like to mention a few of them.

When a performer is so obviously enjoying themselves, that enjoyment can be contagious, and so it was with Sophie Bohlsen with the roue Cyr. Her command of the wheel was brilliant, her smile infectious.



Zac Stephens' combination of hand balancing and gymnastics was outstanding. His mastery of the one-handed handstand was very impressive, but I liked his overlay of hamming up the act, and seeming not to take himself too seriously.



Chelsea Hall took our gaze skywards as she performed a dazzling and nail-bitingly tense trapeze act metres above the stage. She managed to perform mind-bogglingly difficult moves with elegant ease. Beautiful.



I felt the show was well directed. I was impressed with how it had been sequenced for continuity, so that when equipment had to be set up or brought down centre stage, an act would take place at the front of the stage, meaning there was never a break in the entertainment.

Overall, Made to Measure is a highly entertaining 80 or so minutes of action-packed theatre. There's skill, depth and variety in the acts that is a credit both to the performers and to the show's curators and art directors.

Made to Measure plays at the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), 39-59 Green Street, Prahran, until Saturday 26th November. The session times are as follows:

**- Friday 25 November 7.30pm
- Saturday 26 November 2.00pm
- Saturday 26 November 7.30pm.**

Tickets are: full - $35, concession - $28, family of four (two adults and two children under 16) - $112, group of 6 or more - $28 per person. Click here to buy your tickets online.

%%Content Warning: PG (parental guidance recommended).
The show may also contain loud sound effects, smoke/haze and strobe lighting.%%

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!date 22/11/2022 -- 26/11/2022
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