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Duck Pond

9 – 12 January 2026

In the Concert Hall

Circus

When Swan Lake meets The Ugly Duckling, feathers will fly.

Circa, Australia’s trailblazing contemporary circus company, takes ballet’s most beloved classic and flips it on its head. With soaring aerials, a sequinned duck army, burlesque black swans and a cheeky twist on the fairytale you thought you knew, Duck Pond is a high-octane fusion of beauty, comedy and jaw-dropping skill.

Quirky, beautiful and delightfully irreverent. This is Swan Lake, but not as you know it.

Feathers will fly in Circa’s exuberant take on Swan Lake

Circa transforms the world’s most romantic ballet into a thrilling circus spectacular filled with bold movement, irreverent humour and fresh contemporary energy.

Be swept away by this tale of swans and hapless princes, sparkling with quirky touches like a sequinned, flipper-wearing duck army and a burlesque Black Swan. Expect sumptuous aerials, jaw-dropping acrobatics, and of course, feathers! Touching, funny, and utterly entertaining, Duck Pond is a tale of identity and finding your true self.

The internationally acclaimed, award-winning contemporary circus company, Circa, pushes the limits of the art form, with jaw-dropping acrobatics that keep you spellbound and on the edge of your seats – this isn't your grandma’s Swan Lake.

Presented by Sydney Opera House and Circa

Duck Pond is co-commissioned by QPAC and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, The Art House Wyong, Frankston Arts Centre, HOTA - Home of the Arts, Merrigong Theatre Company and Orange Civic Theatre.

Thoroughly entertaining. This circus mash-up of Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling is a seasonal treat.

Time Out

Messing with Swan Lake is a risky business. You wouldn’t want to do that unless you were a bit of a genius. It so happens Yaron Lifschitz is.

In Queensland

Graceful aerial solos. Jaw-dropping lifts. Superhuman balances. Swan Lake as you’ve never seen it before.

The Times

Image credit: Pia Johnson

Synopsis

Prologue

Cupid appears in a flash.

Act 1: The palace, a dream

It is the night before the Prince’s birthday. Various friends, prospective partners and assorted revellers engage in acrobatically-infused merriments. A pillow mishap abruptly ends the party. In a brief encounter, the Prince meets the Ugly Duckling and, with the help of Cupid, they fall in love. Romantic duets follow.

Reality soon intrudes. It could never be that a humble duck and a magnificent prince could be together. The Duck Army comes to console the Ugly Duckling. She leaves somewhat cheerier.

The Black Swan enters dazzlingly. Her magnetic, spiky presence captivates the Prince. The ball that follows celebrates the impending union of Black Swan and Prince. Yet, despite the merriments, something is amiss.

Act 2: The Lake

A lake with swans. We marvel above and below the water. In despair, the Ugly Duckling decides to throw herself into the swans. Unexpectedly she flies! She is, in fact, a swan.

The Black Swan appears. She and the White Swan fall eternally in love. Duets of love follow. The Prince, confused and devastated, implodes as the two enamoured swans head into the sunset.

Act 3: The Theatre

We catch a glimpse of what swans are like in nature. It’s almost time to go home but as we pack up the theatre, true identities are revealed and real magic – the kind that does not depend on swans, tutus or spells – is rekindled.

About Circa

Circa is one of the world’s great performing arts companies. Since 2004, they have called Brisbane, Australia, home while touring the world, captivating audiences in over 45 countries and reaching more than two million people. 

Their award-winning performances have earned standing ovations, rave reviews and sold-out shows across six continents. Everything they do is fueled by their core values: quality, audacity, humanity. They are at the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus, redefining the art form by showcasing how extreme physicality can forge powerful and emotive experiences. 

Under the visionary leadership of Yaron Lifschitz, and in collaboration with their extraordinary ensemble of circus artists, they craft a diverse array of productions that constitute “a revolution in the spectacle of circus” (Les Echos).

They invite you to join them as they continue to “redraw the limits to which circus can aspire” (The Age).

Plan your visit

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