Daredevil show takes to the skies

RING the bells this Easter Fair… but only if you dare.

Melbourne-based physical theatre company 5 Angry Men will collaborate with local dance school Z Fit Studios and arts company for people with a disability CreateA to bring the gravity defying event Do You Dare Me To? to the Queen’s Gardens over the long weekend.

As part of the event, 5AM’s artistic director Steve Phillips said the company will perform their aerial show, The Bells, which mimics bell ringers atop a giant tower.

“This nine-metre-high tower is converted into an absolutely enormous musical instrument when we’re performing The Bells,” he said.

“We swing and bounce and jump on these ropes, and they’ve got a music midi trigger system, so we’ll actually be playing the sound of bells.”

On the ground, three members of CreateA will be working stage and production management for the show, and passers-by can test their limits by getting on The Bells structure in one of Z Fit Studios’ community workshops.

“Do You Dare Me To? applies to everyone, it’s about taking yourself a bit past what you think you can do,” Phillips said. “As a community workshopper, it’s as high as you dare.”

While an “incredibly difficult” performance, Phillips said he was determined to bring the show to his hometown.

“I’ve always wanted to collaborate with the City of Greater Bendigo because we’ve performed in a lot of places and there’s nowhere as beautiful as this,” he said.

“The city is made for outdoor performances, so I’ve been longing to bring some work up.”

The Bells will toll at 4pm on Friday, Sunday and Monday during the Easter Fair, as well as 6pm on Saturday and again at 7pm on Sunday.

Workshop bookings can be made via the Z Fit Studios app.