Best Circus Winner of Adelaide Fringe 2022, The Defiant returns to Gluttony this year for another big season.
Joyful and emotive, The Defiant is a celebration of rebellion and fierceness told through an explosion of acrobatic feats and phenomenal live music.
The 60-minute show celebrates the power and strength of women and non-binary artists, challenging the casting tropes of women in physical theatre, and using this to question the space women occupy in contemporary society.
The Defiant was created by Elena Kirschbaum of Highwire Entertainment, director of hit shows Rouge, Rouge Goes Rogue and Rebel.
“The Defiant cast can’t wait to get back to Adelaide Fringe and experience the incredible energy of the festival,” said Elena.
The Defiant is being remounted to build on the success of last year, Ms Kirschbaum says. “With even bigger acrobatic skills, two brand new routines, and a new set design, we are so excited to bring an even bigger and better show to Adelaide audiences.”
Ms Kirschbaum’s vision was to create a spectacular circus show with live music with a post-apocalyptic theme. Bringing together world-class athletes and acrobats, The Defiant explores force, energy and power through bold contemporary circus and a live rock soundtrack.
“The apocalypse in The Defiant is an allegory for many different kinds of challenges that could be faced by people, and each of the cast members has their own unique story, a journey that they connect to that makes this show authentic,” says Ms Kirschbaum.
“It is above all things a joyful celebration of community and connection.”
“In part, this show was created as a response to the way that many companies cast or create roles for circus artists and musicians. I was watching new shows get created, and here were a bunch of incredible women and non-binary artists who would get overlooked.
“The assumption was ‘they aren’t strong enough, ‘they aren’t good enough’. These women who would stand in a room full of men, they would have more experience, more technical skills, and still get overlooked. This show is a celebration of their power, strength and skill.
“This show is a response to being told over and over again ‘you’re not enough.”
Reviews from the 2022 premiere season of The Defiant:
In a review of The Defiant premiere in 2022, The University of Adelaide gave the performance a 5-star rating, noting that “The Defiant is a sensational show and a must-watch.”
The Defiant shows nightly all through Fringe (closed Mondays):
Fri Feb 17 – Sun Feb 19: 6:40pm
Tue Feb 21 – Sun Feb 26: 6:40pm
Tue Feb 28 – Sun Mar 5: 6:40pm
Tue Mar 7 – Sun Mar 12: 6:40pm
Tue Mar 14 – Sun Mar 19: 6:40pm
For more information, visit The Defiant – Adelaide Fringe 2023 Facebook page and book tickets to the show via Fringetix here.
WHERE: The Peacock, Gluttony, Murlawirrapurka/Rymill Park, Adelaide, SA
WHEN: Feb 17 – Mar 19, 2023 (6:40pm shows)
PRICE: Full price general admission $29 – $42
Social handles:
The Defiant – Facebook| Instagram
Highwire Entertainment – Facebook| Instagram
