Melbourne’s One Fell Swoop Circus Celebrates 10 Years of ‘By a Thread’ at Edinburgh Fringe
A stunning piece of circus directed by Charice Rust and Jonathan Morgan, Melbourne-based One Fell Swoop Circus return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August 6-30 with BY A THREAD – a breathtaking exploration of exchange, balance, and human relationships. This exciting upcoming run of performances will also celebrate the show’s 10 Year Anniversary, marking a huge milestone for the acclaimed company.
After a smash-hit sell-out 2025 season at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, BY A THREAD returns this year for a daring and beautiful exploration of trust and risk eight metres above the ground. Starring seven acrobats, the performers will work with a live counter-weight system, and thirty meters of heavy sailing rope, to bring a meditation on community, equilibrium, and connection to vibrant life. Much of One Fell Swoop’s work connects highly skilled ensembles with innovative physical apparatus, where classic techniques are used in expansive ways and new ideas are made possible.
Circus is a powerful art form because what you see before you is actually what is happening. When you see someone taking a risk by hanging upside down from a rope that is held up only by other people, there is no illusion or trick, that risk is real and the audience can feel that. Director and Co-Founder, Charice Rust
Playing at the Assembly Rooms Music Hall venue on 54 George Street, BY A THREAD will turn human relationships into something immediate and visible: weight, support, risk, timing, and care. It is the hands and muscles of the performers gripping the rope that hold each other in the air – no safety lines attached. A joyful, human, and honest look into the complexities of human relationships starring a majority cast of women/non-binary people – how we treat each other, lean on each other, and depend on each other – and Australian circus at its very best, BY A THREAD will invite audiences to uncover the strands of complex connection present in all human relationships.
The show is recommended for audiences 8+, providing a perfect multi-generational choice for those seeking bold Fringe performances that pack a visual punch.
One Fell Swoop uncovers the intrinsic metaphor within circus to create beautiful audience experiences. Based in Melbourne, the company combines ambitious concepts with visceral physicality, bringing audiences the invigorating mix of risk and joy inherent to group acrobatics. Creating work that combines a high level of circus skill with rich dramatic perspectives, One Fell Swoop specialises in traditional theatre shows and large-scale outdoor circus installation works.
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