Dark Circus

Dark Circus was collaboratively created by an ensemble of 11 performers over a 10 month period, 1989-90. The audience wound their way through a seedy and horrifying sideshow featuring a hunger artist, a human blockhead, and deviant abuse acts among others, to the ‘circus grounds’ in the alley behind the Eureka Theatre.
Dark Circus was a play staged within a circus which featured acrobatic acts, an aerialist, song-and-dance numbers, a horse act, stilt performers, a ‘pinhead’, a drunken magician, a daredevil, a Vaudeville number, a Grande Guignol skit complete with blood and popping eyeballs, a sharp shooter act, clown turns, and a giant puppet. The overarching theme examined slavery vs. freedom, with several sub-themes introduced by the ensemble, presenting inquiry into various topics including racism, ableism, abuse, privilege, and personal choice.
Sold out for its original 3 week run, Dark Circus was ultimately extended for 6 weeks.
Unfortunately the only images available are from very old low res video.

‘Dark Circus’ by Bindlestiff Productions (collaboratively created)
Directed by Chris Brophy and Chrystene Ells
Primary Ensemble: Michael Bellino, Chris Brophy, Chrystene Ells, Sarah Ells, Maija Gailitis, Mark Hidzick, Kelly Kidneigh, Gardiner O’Kain, Stephen Pocock, Reed Kirk Rahlmann, Blancett Reynolds, Todd Rollé
Stills from video shot by Roy Eisenstein

Dark Circus - Enter the Aerialist - Kelly Kidneigh rappels from the rooftop
Lorraine (Sarah Ells)
Min Min Montana (Gardiner O'Kain) sings the Dark Circus Anthem
Dark Circus Acrobat Sequence (Chris Brophy, Chrystene Ells, Tood Rollé)
Dark Circus - Disaster the Blunder Horse and his Trainer (Michael Bellino, with Sarah Ells and Mark Hidzick as the horse)
Dark Circus - The Aerialist (Kelly Kidneigh)
Dark Circus - The Impressaria (Blancett Reynolds) and Circus Trash (Chrystene Ells)
Dark Circus - Grande Guignol sequence (Chrystene Ells and Todd Rolle)
Dark Circus - Grande Guignol sequence (Chrystene Ells and Todd Rolle)
Dark Circus - Eyeball Gag (Chrystene Ells and Todd Rolle)
Dark Circus - Grande Guignol sequence (Mark Hidzick)
Lorraine (Sarah Ells) in the Sword Box at the end of the act by Sterno the Magician (Reed Rahlmann)
Sterno the Magician (Reed Rahlmann) and Lorraine (Sarah Ells)
Dark Circus - The Mime Gets It (Stephen Pocock)