Of all our reviews and feedback in 2016, I loved this one most of all. It arrived in the final weeks of a huge year. It reads “We enjoyed so much Beyond in Istres, France. 100% of the spectators were in an intelligent way more happy after the performance than before.” In an intelligent way, more happy than before is a great task. To dance between entertainment and art, to invoke happiness but not by dumbing down our work – that is tough and valid and worthy work.
It was work the Circa team undertook with passion and gusto. We premiered 9 new creations, performed 473 shows in 18 countries, held 558 workshops, collaborated, worked across cultures and genres, played in big festivals and small, prestigious venues and tiny halls, inhabited cathedrals, cemeteries and lakesides, ranged in emotions from utter despair to sunny good humour and generally delighted audiences.
Tolerance, decency and compassion took a beating in 2016. Those who have, generally gained and those who want, found less hospitality at year’s end than at its start. At Circa we are lucky – we enjoy a strong brand, a great team, regular funding and a tremendous group of supporters, agents, stakeholders and presenters. This doesn’t give us an excuse to forget those less fortunate than ourselves – rather it behooves us to rally on behalf of equity, nuance, depth and humanity; regardless of the cost of our views.
There are always too many people to thank after a year as big and rich and challenging as this one. Michael Lynch became our new chair and has led from the top – providing us with wisdom and guidance. Our board, under Michael’s direction continues to provide strong stewardship of the organisation. Our leadership team of Charlie Cush, Kate Fell and Danielle Kellie have performed miracles on an hourly basis. Our ensemble and delivery teams again proved themselves able to rise above the multiple challenges of touring and creation. And our Training Centre, Commonwealth Games, arTour and Administration teams excelled.
We have much to be grateful for and much work to do to ensure the talents and efforts of our company continue to make the world a more happy place in an intelligent way.
Yaron Lifschitz, Artistic Director/ CEO
