Catch great Scott’s Limbo at Spiegeltent

Melbourne showman Scott Maidment knows a thing or two about how to leave an audience gasping for air.

Having worked with pop icon Madonna on her “Rebel Heart” world tour, Scott’s knowledge and love of entertaining has seen him create and direct some of the world’s most thrilling and creative theatre performances.

One of the Strut & Fret director’s signature shows, Limbo, will be making its way to Geelong late next month as the city welcomes the Aurora Spiegeltent for the first time.

“We’ve been talking about bringing the show to Geelong for three to four years.

It all had to do with the right timing and when the spiegeltent was available. We are really hoping Geelong audiences get behind it, but we are fairly confident,” he said.

Scott said Limbo was born out of a successful show in London and follows no “linear narrative”.

“I was asked to create a second show and I wanted to do something that grew out of the amazing environment of a spiegeltent,” he says.

“It started out by imagining if you were stuck in a place halfway between heaven and halfway between hell – it’s like being immersed in a permanent party, really.

“I created these characters and then it came from the music. There are 50 instruments played live on stage, which forms the backdrop to the amazing acrobatic and aerial stunts.”

The music, which has been created by New York composer and musician Sxip Shirey, takes the audience on a journey to a psychedelic dreamland where anything is possible.

“It’s like New York brass band meets the Beastie Boys going to a house party in Berlin,” Scott laughed.

“It’s beautiful and lyrical. A lot of people say you can go to the show with your eyes closed because the music is really driving.

“One woman who wrote a review said she had a 12-year-old on one side of her that said the show was like something out of Alice In Wonderland and a couple on the other side said that they thought it was the sexiest thing they’ve ever seen.”

Performing over 1,000 shows in 12 countries, the show has a cast of nine performers including fire breather and sword swallower Heather Holliday, tap dancer Hilton Denis and a selection of circus performers from Berlin.

“Shows like this can only survive if the audience loves them,” Scott said.

The Aurora Spiegeltent will be in Geelong from May 30 until June 23. For more information and to get tickets, visit spiegeltentgeelong.com.