What do you get when you cross a circus spectacular with Sesame Street?
Ninety minutes of daring feats underscored by loving, learning and acceptance.
Welcome to Sesame Street, where everyone has their own talent, and a unique contribution to make to the world, even as the familiar characters are surrounded by trapeze artists, contortionists and clowns.
The Sesame Street Circus Spectacular has landed in Canberra, and raised the Big Top at Majura Park, where it will stay until the beginning of August. The show features performers from Argentina, Switzerland, Brazil, Morocco, Spain, Africa and Australia, plus Sesame Street stalwarts Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert and Ernie and Super Grover.
Big Bird will also be making an appearance, although under close watch after his recent abduction from the show's Adelaide stint.
Circus representative Simon Tait said Big Bird had recovered well after being stolen and then returned "minus a few feathers" back in April.
What the Sesame Street characters are finding out is what they can do, or what they can offer to the circus, and how they can fit into the circus.
Simon Tait of the Sesame Street Circus Spectacular
He said the travelling show, which had been subject to delays and lockdowns throughout the past year, included all the elements of a circus, with motorbikes, daredevils and physical feats. But this one appealed to a wider-than-average demographic because of the enduring appeal of Sesame Street, which almost everyone grew up watching on television.
"There's got to be an educational aspect and a little story behind it, and the theory is that everybody has their own inner unique personal talent," Mr Tait said.
"You don't have to be the same as everybody else, you will be different, and you will have your own personal abilities and what the Sesame Street characters are finding out is what they can do, or what they can offer to the circus, and how they can fit into the circus.
"Each of them finds what they're good at, and which acts that they can take part in. So there's that little message that we're not all the same, and we all are good at something."
All parts of the show - which is exactly the same for each performance - has been specially written for the tour, and includes the original Sesame Street voices that were recorded in New York for this production.
So what is it about this familiar-but-foreign setting - a street corner in New York City - that continues to appeal to people the world over, including Canberra?
"I grew up with Sesame Street as well and I'm a bit of a dinosaur, I'm pushing 60," Mr Tait said.
"I remember waking up and watching Sesame Street, eating my toast and Vegemite in the morning before heading off to school...[It's] always tried to include a little bit of humour, lots of love, lots of education that was delivered in a way that you didn't know about it.
"I can still sit down and quite happily watch it and not be contorted at thinking, oh, this is kiddie stuff...One of the things about Sesame Street is acceptance and tolerance of everyone."
- The Sesame Street Circus Spectacular is at Majura Park (opposite Costco) June 25 - August 2. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.au.
