There’s more to a circus than acrobatics. Martial arts, unicycling and the Olympic Games brought these three performers together for Blanc de Blanc: Encore!
When it comes to the exotic, velvet-draped world of cirque, we can never get enough of those fascinating and seductive cabaret performances. It’s the kind of atmosphere and visual art experience that speaks boldly to the LGBT community.
Presented by Strut & Fret, Blanc de Blanc: Encore! is one such show currently touring the country under a century-old spiegeltent, with alluring acts and performers with smouldering good looks, helped by heavy mascara.
Emile Mathieu,
Hailing from Canada, Felix Pouliot, trained at the Circus School of Quebec, is a master of the Chinese pole. His talent is hard to put into words, except that he possibly defies gravity!
“My performing started when my parents got me involved in sports,” says Pouliot.
“I was mainly doing Capoeira, which is a Brazilian martial art. It involves a lot of acrobatics, and I ended up liking that part more than the fighting. I also attended a circus-oriented summer camp, which I enjoyed. I decided that if I wanted to pursue a career in the circus, it had to be then, while I was young and in good physical shape. Everything then came together in a welcoming world.”
“I was doing BMX and skateboarding and wasn’t even interested in the circus.”
From that point onwards, Pouliot created a name for himself, working with many renowned circus companies, from Cirque du Soleil to Australia’s Strut & Fret.
“Blanc De Blanc Encore is an invitation to have a glamorous party with us,” says Pouliot.
“It’s one show where I really feel a connection to the public. We often perform in the intimate setting of the Spiegeltent, which enables us to bond with the audience. In other shows, the fourth wall can stop me from seeing their faces, but when I began with Strut & Fret, I discovered this intimacy and became addicted. I get a heightened connection. Each show is different every night, and that’s gold for a performer. If it were the same show over and over, it would be hard to keep the passion.”
Felix Pouliot
Interestingly, having travelled the world performing, Pouliot finds some of the best audiences have been Australian. Maybe it’s a combination of the show’s talent and our laid-back yet enthusiastic crowd?
“What I find great is that I begin the show as the host, speaking and clowning, and no one expects me to do anything else. Then, when I do some acrobatics, I see the people’s faces! They go a bit crazy, which brings us energy on stage. We even get standing ovations.”
Joining in the risqué́ fun and frivolity is Mykhailo (Misha) Makarovoak, a finalist on Ukraine’s Got Talent in 2022 whose skills in hip hop, popping and ‘bone breaking’ led him to perform at last year’s Paris Olympics. Bone breaking is where arms and legs appear to be detached.
“Our men wear a maid’s outfit, complete with long leather boots and stilettos.”
“In this show, I’m free to experiment, take risks, push boundaries, and discover new facets of my craft,” says Makarovoak.
Matt Myers with Emile Mathieu,
“I think of it as an alchemy process, where sweat, tears and dedication are transmuted into moments of beauty. I’m reminded that art has the power to heal and connect us all, and I feel part of something beautiful and bigger than myself.”
“One of my favourite moments of the show is the grape-throwing act,” says Makarovoak.
“Our blend of comedy, specific throwing and catching skills and downright outrageous-ness captures what the show is about. It’s a simple concept that is transformed into an incredible act, and the audience becomes a part of the performance.”
Mykhailo (Misha) Makarovoak
In addition to the joy of performing, Makarovoak clearly has a love for his fellow cast members, with an obvious camaraderie on stage.
“In sharing the stage with many talented performers, I’m struck by their generosity, depth of passion and mutual love for this craft. The behind-the-stage ‘army’ is also our shoulder to lean on, always there when we need them and committed to helping us show the best of our craft. The producers believe in our vision, the crew work tirelessly, and the performers are my second family. I feel we’re bound by a shared dream, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Matt Myers with Felix Pouliot
And then there’s Canadian Emile Mathieu, who, as well as acrobatics, speaks five languages and unicycles!
“It’s a mix of circus, dancing, comedy, nudity and cheekiness!”
“My background is street unicycling,” says Mathieu.
“I was doing BMX, skateboarding and urban sports and wasn’t even interested in circus. Like a jaded teenager, I thought my unicycling was cool enough. People kept telling me I was a clown because I rode a unicycle, and then I discovered I could do my type of cycling in the circus. I realised that the circus was open-minded and – cool! It was also the only way to make money from my passion. So, I joined the circus!”
Mathieu’s work obviously extends beyond the unicycle to include a sense of ‘cheeky’ humour, as seen with co-star Eric Allen, who performs at the Brisbane shows.
“Blanc De Blanc is a very eclectic cabaret show,” laughs Mathieu.
Emile Mathieu and Eric Allen
“It’s a mix of circus, dancing, comedy, nudity and cheekiness – and the audience becomes a cast member too. I find it very gratifying work because people pay to be entertained, and at the end of a show, I can see they are happy. That’s a great feeling. I absolutely love the interaction with the audience. We are different at each performance, and so are our audiences. It’s always a different human experience each night, and it’s always fresh.”
With its acrobatics, music and comedy, Blanc du Blanc Encore marks the first time Melbourne-based Strut & Fret has presented a show in its hometown in eight years. They also run The Garden of Unearthly Delights (Adelaide), West End Electric (Brisbane), Grand Electric (Sydney) and Sabrage in London. There is always a relaxed yet heightened feeling to their shows. Encore includes some French glamour humour and cross-dressing.
Matt Myers with the cast of Blanc de Blanc: Encore!
“I particularly like our ‘Maids’ act,” says Mathieu.
“It’s a fierce dance and comedy routine – a twist on the sexy French maid and includes our men in the maid’s outfit, complete with long leather boots and stilettos. We ask a lot from the audience because we’re doing things for a reaction, which in turn creates our reaction. Some audiences are more drawn to the comedy, while others prefer the physical feats. But when they like both equally, that’s when the magic truly happens.”
Matt Myers with Felix Pouliot
Pouliot agrees, especially enjoying the ride they take the audience on.
“Because it’s immersive, people feel like part of the show”.
“We take them on a journey ranging from very high-class to something crazy and darker. We also bring surprises and make each show individual. People love it and keep coming back. The Australian take on our shows is something that I cherish very much.”
Blanc de Blanc Encore is playing at Spiegel Haus Melbourne
For more visit: spiegelhausmelb.com
The show is about to begin!
