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NZ Herald
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Dust Palace brings circus cabaret to Kerikeri
Brought to life by Dust Palace's powerhouse creative team and four highly skilled circus performers, Haus of Yolo is an unforgettable night out, blending comedy, circus and pure spectacle. Audiences are invited into the inner sanctum of Haus of Yolo, where couture creations are stitched live on stage – only for them to become part of gravity-defying circus routines moments later. 'The whole concept of the show is that we sew all the costumes on stage and the audience chooses,' Gordon explains. 'Sewing an item of clothing in three or four minutes is a risky thing to do, it's speed sewing and that's the kind of game we're playing with the audience which adds to the adrenaline of the circus.' Following sold-out seasons across the country in 2018, the revised cabaret is this time touring Auckland, Kerikeri and Hastings, before it's off to Canada. The company has a regular gig in the country after Gordon decided to take a career gamble back in 2017. 'Montreal is like the home to contemporary circus and I'd wanted to go and check out what was happening in the industry. In 2017, we decided to take the Goblin Market show across to the arts market in Canada and I spent my grandmother's inheritance money getting over there. It totally paid off as the show was seen by a producer in Vancouver, who picked it up and we've been invited back ever since.' With a background in ballet and theatre – her grandmother paid for ballet lessons when she was small, skills she uses every day. Gordon almost went to dance school but switched to drama school, where she studied to become an actor. She later learned circus theatre, combining story-telling with circus before producing her own shows. As well as the dance, acting and sewing talents, Gordon writes the scripts as part of a collaborative team effort. Then there's the performing and acrobats. 'You do have a healthy respect for gravity,' she shares. 'That's the fun, to play with the calculated risk of it.' Dust Palace was founded in 2009 by Gordon and Mike Edward and has become New Zealand's premier contemporary circus company, creating internationally acclaimed productions such as The Wonderwombs, Goblin Market and Te Tangi a te Tūī. The name derived from a dusty studio where Gordon and her friend were making a circus flash film back in 2007. 'It was this dusty, creative space like magical fairy dust, which harks back to something coming out of the ashes. My friend thought it looked like a dust palace.' Advertise with NZME. She parked the name and used it years later when she formed her company. Dust Palace's work extends beyond performance; they are leaders in circus education and have pioneered New Zealand's most comprehensive circus teacher training programme. The Dust Palace School, which began in 2013, has had up to 450 students at a time and Te Kura Maninirau Kaupapa Māori Circus School, in its second year, has waiting lists. The company have recently secured a new venue in Ellerslie. The former War Memorial Hall has been repurposed as an arts venue and, as a dedicated hub for circus arts, cabaret and live performance, is set to become the beating heart of contemporary circus in the region. Their latest tour kicked off from this new venue on May 15 and they are set to perform at the Turner Centre, Kerikeri, on Friday, May 23. The flamboyant, fashion-fuelled spectacle is described as pure late-night indulgence with one reviewer saying: 'The imperfection of fast-fashion is perfectly highlighted in this fun show that is packed with high energy, thrillingly dangerous acrobatics and a perfectly put-together soundtrack. 'It's a script but it's not, we have personal leeway to modify,' says Gordon: 'Expect a wild ride. The show is definitely R18, it's pretty saucy, but in a fun way! Expect fast-fashion, expect to get involved, dress up in as much fashion as you can.' What type of fashion? 'Couture, darling, couture,' Gordon laughs. 'Your highest-end couture. You only live once!'
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
