The Strange and Spektakular Lives of Otto & Astrid

The Strange and Spektakular Lives of Otto & Astrid - photo by Rob BlackburnFeaturing the evocative physicality of Circus Oz acrobats, Artistic Director Rob Tannion is creating an original circus rock opera with Berlin’s Prince and Princess of art rock and Europop, Otto & Astrid from the band Die Roten Punkte.

Following a period of creative development, Circus Oz and Salvador Dinosaur will present a sneak peek preview season of The Strange and Spektakulär Lives of Otto & Astrid at the Meat Market in North Melbourne this December. A wholly original rock opera, the show traces the fantastical backstory of squabbling siblings and their turbulent rise to become the (self-proclaimed) best rock band in the world.

Amidst the rocking live music of Otto & Astrid, acrobats Matt Wilson, Kyle Raftery and April Dawson will join the dysfunctional duo to create a combination of characters, including bakers, a train driver, a golden angel, a tyrannical aunt and uncle, a tap dancing dog and bohemian revellers on the streets of Berlin.

The Strange and Spektakulär Lives of Otto & Astrid brings together a dynamic combination of expertise in physical comedy, original music, circus and ensemble performance all framed within Tannion’s striking visual theatrical style.

“We’ve been waiting our whole lives to make a rock opera with our songs and Circus Oz have helped us to take this dream to a whole new level with three of the bendiest people in Australia!” said Astrid Rot.

Utterly dysfunctional siblings Otto & Astrid are the two-piece rock band, Die Roten Punkte (The Red Dots). Orphaned as kids when Astrid was 12 and Otto was nine, the brother and sister duo found shelter in a Berlin squat and never rockin’ well looked back.

Otto & Astrid have sold out venues in Edinburgh, New York, Sydney, Montreal, Dublin, and have toured across Europe opening for Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra. They are truly one of a kind. Astrid’s avant-garde style and legendary antics inspire both reverence and fear, while Otto’s dynamic stage presence brings to mind a whirling dervish on meth.

Credited with revitalising a traditional artform in a uniquely Australian way, Circus Oz is a rock ‘n’ roll, circus with 100% human animals that has influenced the development of circus arts around the world since its foundation in 1978. Circus Oz undertook its first and critically praised international tour in 1980 and has continued touring to over 100 cities and regions in 28 countries – playing to over 4 million people.

The Strange and Spektaculär Lives of Otto & Astrid
Meat Market, 5 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne
Sneak Peak Season: 6 – 9 December 2017
Bookings: www.eventfinda.com.au

For more information, visit: www.circusoz.com for details.

Image: Matt Wilson, Astrid Rot, April Dawson, Otto Rot and Kyle Raftery – photo by Rob Blackburn