BMKS+Stage+directions+1

=Over the years Melbourne's performance has changed, but how exactly, was it just the costumes or did we all just start to think differently? = =Below are two different types of performance each very different to the other, with different histories and changes... =

=Circus: What is the circus and when did it begin? = = Circus's is commonly defined as a travelling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists. = = Circus's began in ancient Rome with the first circus being called "Circus Maximus." This circus included things such as chariot races, acrobats and horse riding. Early circus's in Rome were also one of the few events that both woman and men were allowed to participate as an audience together. = = One of the first circus performance companies in Melbourne was the Noble's Olympic Circus which opened in Bourke Street on 23 February 1852. Noble John Sullivan, an American circus man, was widely credited as the originator of circus entertainments in Victoria. = = From the early 1900s until the early 1960s, the dominant Australian circus, Wirth Brothers Circus, visited Melbourne almost every year, its visit coinciding with the Melbourne Cup carnival. Other local companies such as Bullen Bros, Sole Bros and Ashton's frequently visited Melbourne after the two world wars. = = Over the last few decades foreign circus companies, such as the Great Moscow Circus and the Canadian Cirque du Soleil, have been seen in Melbourne. Melbourne is known as a centre of modern Australian circus activity. Melbourne is home of Circus Oz and the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA). The Arts Centre was the setting for the 1990 Circus Summit, Australia's first national conference of circus people. 00000 = =Acting: What is acting and when did it begin? = = Acting is the performance of a part or role in a drama. Acting is also considered as a way to express yourself to others. = = Humans have been acting for thousands of years, from all the way back in ancient times! = = Did you know that only men were allowed to act, that meant that men had to play the roles of woman and men .= = Costumes have changed as well, actors used to wear different coloured wigs to represent your status in society eg. if were playing an old wealthy man you would wear a grey wig or a black wig if you were acting as young adult or child, a red wig would be warn if you were playing a slave. = = At the moment there are a few major shows on, One of these is Hairspay, just recently I saw it and it was BRILLIANT! Hairspay is a very lively show that is entertaining for the whole family (even Nan!). Other shows that were recently out were Marry Poppins, Wicked and Mama Mia! But my favourite was Fame, the singing was amazing and the dancing... well it was past that, if that's even possible. I had a ball of a time and would see it again and again and again if I could! = = Melbourne now days has heaps of shows. Both men and women are allowed to act and wigs don't have to be a certain colour to represent being rich or being poor! =

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