Lesley Regan will show off her circus skills in Red Hot Flush, which is part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. 70745 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Charlene Gatt
LESLEY Regan is proof that getting older doesn’t mean you have to stop swinging from the rafters.
Ms Regan, who is in her 50s, is part of a seven-women ensemble that will combine circus skills with a funny take on middle age in Red Hot Flush, which will debut as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Red Hot Flush has been devised, performed and directed by women aged 49 to 61.
The seven women weave aerial dance, wall running, adagio and personal stories to expose the unavoidable pitfalls and unexpected joys of becoming middle aged.
“Older performers interpret traditional circus skills in a different way,” Ms Regan said.
“Red Hot Flush puts a new twist on old tricks.
“We wanted to… bring something new to the Fringe program – the stories, strength and creativity of older women.”
Ms Regan joined the Women’s Circus in 2001 and specialises in acro balance, trapeze and harness choreography.
“I’ve never been stronger,” she said.
“Age is not a barrier to innovation.”
This year, the Women’s Circus celebrates 20 years of encouraging women of all shapes, sizes and ages to explore their creativity through circus and physical skills.
The Women’s Circus won the Innovation in Circus award at last year’s Fringe Festival and this year hopes to again push the boundaries by showcasing the work of older performers.
Women’s Circus artist in residence, Debra Batton, is running the show.
Ms Batton was the artistic director of Legs on the Wall for almost 10 years and won two Helpmann Awards for an aerial performance on the NGV wall for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Red Hot Flush will perform four shows from 29 September, at the Drill Hall, 395 Barkly Street, West Footscray.
