Pay No Attention

The Flying Fruit Fly Circus returns this June – July with a brand-new show where knockabout comedy meets breathtaking aerials. Experience the incredible talent of young performers in this high-energy circus extravaganza!

Step into a circus of contradictions, where nothing is as it seems – a kaleidoscope of illusion, disguise and reinvention. Performed by the extraordinary young artists of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, it features breathtaking acrobatics, theatrical trickery and shifting personas – where every identity tried on, discarded or reinvented leaves a trace of who we might become.

With spectacular circus skills, sleight of hand and enigmatic performances, thirteen young acrobats pull you into a whirlpool of post-truth malarkey. Everyone has a version; no one agrees. Pay No Attention is by turns hilarious, unsettling and awe-inspiring – a circus puzzle about what it means to be seen.

In an age of “fake news”, digital manipulation and endless conflicting stories, Pay No Attention reflects the lived experience of today’s young people: sorting through fragments, questioning authority, embracing fluidity and constructing their own truths and identities.

The performance celebrates disguise and reinvention – where young people try on new selves, where nothing is certain and where spectacle itself becomes slippery!

“Pay No Attention – A technicolour film noir prognostication about growing up and discovering who you are.

It is such a privilege to make a show for the Studio in the Opera House and with the students of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus. I am given free rein to dream up interesting stage layouts and fascinating circus scenarios.

Pay No Attention started from thinking about those identities that, as adolescents, we try on and then discard in the making of ourselves. Trying on different personas, casting off unsuitables in favour of other more fitting selves! We then collided this exploration with the idea of a murder mystery – what exactly happened to those rejects?

My collaborators in this divination have been wonderful – immersing themselves in this weird Orson Wellesian candy-floss-inflected world. The young performers have, as always, brought all of themselves to the endeavour, surprising me with their tenacity, talent and professionalism, although after 8 years working with Flying Fruit Fly Circus I should no longer be surprised that they are artists beyond their years.

Pay No Attention features contemplative hand-standers, frenetic jugglers, self-assured tumblers, effusive aerialists, self-contained antipodists, and bemused hula-hoopers. Each circus skill has its own personality.

Together we have spun a joyous technicolour film-noir murder mystery, part Sherlock Holmes, part schlock magic show. A fabulous fiesta that I hope your family will enjoy – together.” – Anni Davey, Director

Behind the Curtain

The Flying Fruit Fly Circus is Australia’s National Youth Circus – a unique performing arts company where world-class training and extraordinary creativity come together. Based on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, we are home to the country’s only full-time circus school, offering exceptional training and academic education to young Australians from Year 3 to Year 12.

Our young acrobats learn by performing. Their education is shaped by creativity, collaboration, and the thrill of the stage – developing not only remarkable artists but confident, well-rounded individuals.

As both a nationally recognised training organisation and a vibrant performing company, the Flying Fruit Fly Circus continues to push the boundaries of contemporary circus. Our productions, tours, and creative programs share the energy and excellence of our young artists with audiences across Australia and the world.

Now approaching our 50th year, we remain dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Australian circus artists and inspiring audiences everywhere with the joy and wonder of live performance.