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The Spinoff
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Haus of Yolo successfully struts its stuff in new suburban space
The new circus show from The Dust Palace isn't just a fun night out, it's an introduction to an exciting new space in Tāmaki Makaurau, writes Sam Brooks. As a resident of the very centre of Auckland's central business district, I often forget that there are spaces beyond the view of the Sky Tower where exciting and new art is being performed. '1010' is just a postcode, not a designation of where all the cool stuff is happening. Last week's preview night of circus show Haus of Yolo, in a revamped suburban Ellerslie arts space, is a reminder of that. The concept of Haus of Yolo (stylised in all caps) is a fun one. A sparkly green jacket is passed around the cast – Eve Gordon, Lizzie Tollemache, Luis Meireilles and Jaine Mieka – possessing each in turn with a megalomaniacal fashion designer persona. Think Jim Carrey's The Mask. This jacket is intent on making a new fashion line to be featured in Vogue, and no innuendo or pantomimery will get in its way. While the concept is fun, the audience is really here for the circus. The Dust Palace has been Tāmaki Makarau's leading circus company for over a decade now, with as many shows to their name as they have years under their belt. Their brand – high-level circus framed by narrative – is a strong one, and they continue in that vein here. The narrative is a nice-to-have, the circus is the essential excellence here. The circus delivers. The company's director Eve Gordon is, as ever, spectacular. Even though I've seen them onstage many times, it's still a thrill to see them be seemingly effortlessly lifted into mid-air and spin, swish, and contort into shapes that fly in the face of what the human body should be capable of. Meireilles and Mieka were new to me, however, and Mieka's acts on the silks and with the hoops were particularly impressive, blending pure athleticism with remarkable grace and beauty. Tollemache provides the magic (and I mean that literally) of the show, with segments that punctuate the audience's questions of 'How are they doing that?' with, 'No, but seriously, how are they doing that?' One of the highlights of the show is getting introduced to a new space, Ellerslie Arts, which The Dust Palace is now the resident company-slash-owner of. The space used to be the home of the Ellerslie Theatrical Society, which wrapped up its community activities in 2023, and it mixes the feel of a community hall with a professional space. It has that classic pros' arch and a cute little bar window, but a lick of paint and professional rig elevate it. Haus of Yolo seems designed to make the most of this space. It's easily the most intimate space I've seen this kind of circus in. I'd estimate the venue seats just above a hundred people, with each of those hundred being mere metres from the performer, and the ensemble makes sure to use every inch of floor space, mingling among the audience seated underneath the proscenium arch and marching down to those seated in the proverbial (and probably literal) cheaper seats. Circus is an artform that we're traditionally told soars in massive spaces, where thousands of people can feed in their energy to the performance of one person, doing physics-defying stunts and spectacle-driven acts for us. We see it in places like Spark Arena, Civic Theatre, or Q Theatre's Rangatira space. For logistical reasons, places like Basement Theatre or BATs Theatre can't really accommodate the form. The intimacy of Ellerslie Arts highlights another part of circus, and frankly the main appeal of the artform for me, now. You can see the intense focus on each performer's face as they perform, and you can feel the ensemble giving each other energy. When Tollemache sits at the lip of the stage, jacket donned, you really feel the focus that she's giving to Gordon and Meireilles as they contort and intertwine in mid-air. Circus is high stakes enough as it is, with the performers risking injury in the same space as the audience, but being this close to the action gives it another level. The Dust Palace have cottoned on to a winner with its new space, and I'm frankly excited to see the potential of it. There is, perhaps, one game too many for the audience to follow. One of the most impressive parts of the show – the fact that the cast is speed sewing the garments that they then have to wear onstage – often gets lost despite some helpful camerawork showcasing it. It's the one downside to the intimacy of the space, that there's sometimes too much show for the space to contain it. On the whole, though, the preview night of Haus of Yolo showed me more of what the Tāmaki Makaurau performing arts needs most. As people are being priced out of the central suburbs, we need more spaces to host both them and the things they want to see. Put simply: Ellerslie Arts is one of those spaces, and Haus of Yolo is definitey one of those shows.
RNZ News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The Dust Palace finds home in dedicated hub
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. The country's leading circus theatre company, The Dust Palace, has two reasons to celebrate. They're about to open and tour their new show Haus of Yolo and secondly, following a new partnership with the local council, The Dust Palace has now moved into a new venue in Ellerslie, Tamaki Makaurau. The former theatre will be a dedicated hub for circus arts, cabaret and live performance; serving both artists and the surrounding community. Eve Gordon spoke to Culture 101's Perlina Lau about the benefits of having the new space for artists and performers. Haus of Yolo will open at 138 Main Highway, Ellerslie from the 15th to the 18th of May before heading to Kerikeri, Hastings and Canada.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Coronation Street star makes unannounced return to the soap in brand new role – 10 years after her debut
A CORONATION Street star has made an unannounced return to the soap in a brand new role - 10 years after her debut. Viewers of the ITV soap opera were likely second guessing who was on screen this week during the police matter with Kit and Mick. 4 4 Actress Eve Gordon made an unannounced return to the programme as an unnamed police officer during an interview between DS Kit Green and Mick Michaelis Mick was a suspect in a vicious assault case against a victim called Mr Palmer who was beaten up outside a pub. But Kit appeared to go easy on him him during questioning and let Mick saunter out despite eyewitness statements. The police officer questioned her boss and said: "Excuse me DC Green, I know you are the one conducting the interview. "But on the arrest sheets, it mentions statements from several witnesses in the pub who saw him." Kit dismissed her concerns and told her that the interview was terminated and that she should escort Mick out of the building. However, it's not the first time Eve has appeared in the street as an unnamed copper. Back in 2023, she was sent out to question Tim Metcalfe about his stand-off with a fellow taxi driver in Freshco's car park But the street's fans will also have recognised her for her role as Caitlin Ryan, the first girlfriend of then schoolboy Craig Tinker. Caitlin appeared on a recurring basis for nine months, making her debut in August 2015. Coronation Street fans stunned as former show star reappears as brand new character Eve last appeared on screens in May 2016 when her character was written out but it seemed as though she had jumped at the chance to appear once again albeit in a much smaller role. Caitlin made her debut during the Street's fateful camping trip to Wales. Her father in the show, Bear Grylls wannabe, Dougie, was played by none other than comedian and TV presenter Paddy McGuinness. Craig and Caitlin bonded on the trip, including for their mutual love of rats, and Caitlin eventually went to see Craig in Weatherfield to congratulate him on his GCSE results. Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025 ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap. This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama. Colson Smith - Craig Tinker The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig's on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role. Sue Cleaver - Eileen Grimshaw After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I'm A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she's already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future. Luca Toolan - Mason Radcliffe Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him. Sue Devaney - Debbie Webster In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline. Charlotte Jordan - Daisy Midgeley The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she's hungry to see what other opportunities await. Shelley King - Yasmeen Metcalfe The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter. She continued to crop up intermittently, noticeably during the Christmas and New Year period when she spent time with Craig and his mum, Beth, and step-dad, Kirk, and helped to create the Street's mural for deceased Maddie Heath thanks to her arts skills. Caitlin last appeared when she told Craig she was calling time on their romance to study at Dundee University and she has rarely been mentioned again. Meanwhile, Coronation Street viewers are going to finally understand what is going on between Kit and Mick with a special flashback episode. On Friday, May 16, viewers will be transported back to 2007 to witness the teenage years of Kit, Mick, and Lou and uncover the truth behind their intertwined past. Secrets will be revealed, and long-buried traumas will resurface, shedding light on Kit's motivations and the reason behind his complicated relationships. 4
NZ Herald
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
‘Te Tangi a Te Tūī‘: Māori cirque show set for Rotorua and Tauranga
Tukiwaho and co-creator and lead circus artist Eve Gordon share a personal connection to the story. Both hailing from Rotorua, they grew up together in the region, where their shared upbringing plays a pivotal role in shaping the authentic voice of the production. Originally a collaboration between Te Rēhia Theatre and The Dust Palace, this production brings together the strength of kaupapa Māori theatre with the daring spectacle of circus arts. The result is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience that speaks to the soul of Aotearoa's cultural heritage. 'Rotorua is very proud to host 'Te Tangi a te Tūī'. The performance celebrates Māori culture in such an innovative and powerful way and will not only engage and inspire our community but also contribute to our vibrant arts scene here in Rotorua,' RotoruaNZ chief executive Andrew Wilson said. ' Sir Howard Morrison Centre is the perfect setting for this.' Two public shows will be offered in Rotorua. In addition, there will be a special matinee for schools and kura in Rotorua and the wider region. 'Bringing students to 'Te Tangi a te Tūī' will not only deepen their understanding of te ao Māori but also provide them with a unique perspective on physical theatre and cultural expression. 'It's an exciting way to celebrate and promote the arts, and a chance to witness a show created with children and teenagers in mind,' The Dust Palace's community engagement co-ordinator, Maioha Allen, said. For more information, join the waitlist or visit Limited presale tickets are available from Thursday, May 1. General sales begin on Monday, May 19. – Supplied content
