Thomas Worrell has been defying gravity in Briefs, Happy Endings, Dirty Laundry and Cirque Bon Bon! I got to interview the aerialist hoop extraordinaire! Photography by Christian Scott
Tell us about Cirque Bon Bon.
It’s quite an intimate theatre experience and not traditional circus where the acts are sparkling and shiny, and everyone salutes at the end. It’s more theatrics and drama with the essence of modern circus mixed with Cirque du Soleil. It has smooth organic transitions in a natural flow. It’s quite marvellous.
Does it have a queer element?
It’s not queer-orientated or directed with that purpose. There are queer artists, so it has that representation without being an intentional concept. At times in the past, I’ve had experiences of, “Oh no, all the boys are boys, and all the girls are girls”, but the world of theatre and the arts has progressed where it’s now about being ‘you’. It’s about presenting yourself and your art to the audience.
Thomas Worrell Photography: Christian Scott
Speaking of such, did you see the Paris Olympics opening ceremony?
I did! Me and my old housemate have a penchant for the opening and closing ceremonies. We watch them all the time on repeat. Paris wasn’t the best, but I liked how they tried a different style. There was a lot of backlash about the representation of queerness and drag queens, but that’s just people choosing to be offended. There were drag queens and campness at the Sydney Olympics twenty-four years ago, so why are people suddenly surprised?
“I’ve had some close calls with male anatomy malfunctions, but never the full shebang!
It had an element of Eurovision too.
Oh, it was very Eurovision and campy. But I think about ninety per cent of the audience couldn’t tell who was in drag. I mean Nicky Doll is one of the most beautiful feminine-looking people around.
Do you have favourite past ceremony moments?
It’s hard to go past Gloria Estefan and Celine Dion at the Atlanta opening in 1996. And then there was Vanessa Amorosi at Sydney 2000 – one of the best vocal performances you’ll ever see, and she was like nineteen!
Thomas Worrell Photography: Christian Scott
What’s life like on tour?
Not as glamorous as you’d think. People always assume I’m on holiday! The hard part is setting up before opening, which involves long days making sure everything’s ready. After opening night, I settle into a routine. Our ‘office hours’ are not long, but there’s still a heightened energy. It’s like shiftwork in that I need to hit my peak in the evening. If I wake up early in the morning, I’ll be too tired to perform later. If I wake up late, then I’m all over the shop. There’s also the isolation of tour life. Being away from family and friends can take its toll. But I’ve been doing it for so long, I don’t know any other way.
“Spit on it, rub it in and wash it out later. The things you learn!”
Do you have Mad Monday celebrations like AFL footballers?
Yes, we call it Showgirl Weekend. It kind of falls in line with footballers but not in the same circles. With Mondays off, you’re figuring out how to let your hair down on a Sunday night – with nothing open! Depending on the tour, we try to make Monday magic by seeing what the city has to offer. Like, “Let’s go day drink in a park, just because we can!”
Now, there’s a good photoshoot idea! Aerial contortionists sharing Mad Monday in the park with footballers.
(Laughing) Those footballers think they can party, but the Briefs boys would put them to shame!
Thomas Worrell Photography: Christian Scott
How did you enjoy the DNA photoshoot, hanging half-naked from a hoop?
Photoshoots are new to me and kind of split my brain. I’ve only done amateur modelling over the past couple of years and combining it with my normal work is quite interesting. When I’m doing hoop, it’s about creating interesting shapes with the body, but when I’m modelling it’s about showing off my features like chest and abs. Am I a model on a hoop or a hoop artist modelling? I’m trying to figure out where the middle ground lies.
Is being an aerial hoop contortionist exhilarating?
Parts of it are and then there are days where it’s plain work. Certain skills are so high-level and dangerous that you get into this zoned-out hyper-focused place where nothing else exists. Sometimes the focus is super internal. I’ll be spinning, trying to hold a shape and thinking about what muscles I need to contract. So, it does become this strange world where the audience disappears and it’s just me trying to achieve a movement. But I will say this – spinning releases endorphins that make you happy. If you can get past the nausea there’s a real zing that comes from spinning fast. There’s a reason why kids spin until they’re dizzy and fall over giggling!
“I’ve gone down the gay country cowboy route!”
What do you think of Pink’s acrobatics?
She’s an incredible performer. I like that she’s been doing circus in her shows since the beginning. She’s always approached it with a level of respect and made circus popular and palatable in a different way. For example, Britney Spears did The Circus tour, but that was a gimmick for an album. She hired performers, but there was no circus involved with herself. A lot of artists now use harnesses and automations to fly over the crowd – because of Pink. But now even Pink has to find new ways to make it look fresh. She’s always respected circus and never taken the piss out of it. Also, bear in mind she sings at the same time. That’s more than most circus artists do.
In touring around the world, what city gives the best response?
Most of my touring has been with Briefs and the city that’s a massive standout is London. It has an amazing fan base and I’ve made friends with people who come to see the show. I get a barrage of messages asking me to come back to London! London is number one internationally and in Australia, it’s between Brisbane and Perth. I have a strong connection with those cities. The style of fans in Japan is on a whole other level. They come to the show three times a week for three months. It’s a dedication from the heart!
Thomas Worrell and his partner Sean
Maybe they were coming to specifically look at you.
(Laughing) Yes, I take full credit for everyone who comes to our show multiple times, specifically because of me!
There seems to be a commitment from both the artist and the audience.
Yeah, for instance, I’ve just done two years performing in Montreal and the crowds there lap it up because circus is a huge part of Montreal’s identity. There’s a bit of nervousness in going there because this crowd knows circus! It’s the home of Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloize and their National Circus School. It’s a circus mecca city!
“Footballers think they can party, but the Briefs boys would put them to shame!”
You also worked as an aerial coach on the productions of How To Train Your Dragon Live and Moulin Rouge The Musical. What was that like?
Moulin Rouge was fun. They have a twenty-second aerial track in the show, so I worked on fixing the dancers’ technique. Going into a production that big I thought, “What do they need from me?” But then it’s also one of those moments where I realised, I do know my shit (laughing). It’s about sharing my knowledge and expanding the ability of others. I’ve been teaching for seventeen years, and I have a strong passion for it. A lot of my students have gone on to work for big circus companies and some have won competitions.
What kind of music are you into?
Orville Peck is at the top of my list. I’ve gone down the gay country cowboy route! Now and then an artist just hits you sideways and he did that for me. It’s more than the fact that he’s a mysterious hot cowboy. His style of writing and music resonates and connects with me. Of course, I’m a big fan of our queen of pop Kylie Minogue and Chappell Roan is the new rising goddess. I’ve recently used FKA twigs in my performance and in my younger days, I was into Emo. Thirty Seconds to Mars was my lifeblood. I’m a bit of a chameleon!
Have you ever had a wardrobe malfunction while performing?
I’ve had costume breaks and shoelaces come undone – when they really shouldn’t. Then there’s always bleeding, which doesn’t go hand in hand with what you’re wearing. But I learnt a tip from the wardrobe people that spit breaks down blood vessels. If you bleed on your shirt, spit on it, rub it in and wash it out later. The things you learn!
Thomas Worrell and his partner Sean
Hang on a minute – blood?!
(Laughing) Aerial can be quite rough. I’m rolling around on a metal bar that’s wrapped in tape and it’s very easy to get grazes, scratches and bruises. Something is always injured and dented, but it’s commonplace. I’ve also had some close calls with male anatomy malfunctions, but never the full shebang!
“I’ll be spinning, trying to hold a shape and thinking about what muscles I need to contract.”
The act would then become more of a ladies’ hen’s night!
(Laughing) Exactly!
“There were drag queens at the Sydney Olympics twenty-four years ago, so why are people suddenly surprised?”
Is there any one person who has inspired your career?
My first coach Holly Rollins came from a Cirque du Soleil background, and she performed in my favourite act in my favourite Cirque du Soleil show. But it’s more than that. It’s what she instilled in me that crafted and directed my career. When I first started hoop, it was seen as an easy aerial that pretty girls do the splits on. But she had an attitude that if you don’t respect this apparatus then the audience won’t either. She taught me the importance of technique, flexibility and strength, but also to question how to elevate it into something more difficult and impressive. That had a huge impact on the way I teach and represent it. It’s not about making it pretty and just spinning, it’s about making it more hardcore and respected.
How’s life with your partner Sean?
Wonderful! Sean and I met just before the pandemic, and we laugh about how he met me once at a Briefs show. He even got a photo with me, and we followed each other on social media. Then we ran into each other and started a relationship. We now live together and he’s my biggest cheerleader. Even when work takes me away, he understands my career and passion. He’s incredibly supportive and knows I can’t be a performer forever. One day he’ll be stuck with me all the time!
Cirque Bon Bon plays Canberra Theatre 22-24 August and Brisbane Festival in 18-20 September
Instagram @cirquebonbon @thomthomw
Thomas Worrell Photography: Christian Scott
