Acrobatic excellence at a level you are most unlikely to have seen. That is what is in store if you venture into Arts Centre Melbourne to see 10,000 Hours, which I would urge you to do. This is the first time it has been in Melbourne. The title of the show refers to the amount of practice that has gone into producing the 60 minutes of thrills that you will witness.
In short, it is good natured, exciting, exhilarating, surprising and, at times, humorous. And it is suitable for youngsters (the age recommendation is 4+), as well as adults. Nine supremely gifted artistes and a drummer have put together a brilliant showcase of skill, strength and agility. Think circus, dance and physical theatre.
Sequence after sequence tests the limits of human endeavour, fluidity and balance. The acrobats – large and small – form human pyramids, standing upright atop each other three tall and cat-like five tall. Wow! They are frequently thrown and caught. They leap, roll, flip, turn and jump. They perform handstands, walk from shoulder to shoulder, and form a hanging bridge.
All this, with a digital clock in the background, accompanied by a greatly varied musical repertoire that spans everything from classical to electronica. Mood setting multicoloured lighting is another feature.
Among the early highlights, one performer responds to calls from the audience for a compelling warmup routine. That happens after the drummer (Nick Martyn) asks the crowd to yell out the name of an animal we would like her to impersonate. In our case, a chicken won favour. Then again, Martyn wants a crazy idea to be enacted. We oblige. The acrobat delivers.
Some time later, human jenga is on the cards. An audience member is brought up onto stage and asked to sketch the poses the artists create. The piece de resistance of that routine is when the volunteer is called upon to draw a collective form she would like to see realised. Laughter and applause ensue.
Not to be outdone, the drummer is given his own time to shine. His frenzied syncopation is dynamic and impressive. There is so much to love about the award winning 10,000 Hours, which has been seen by more than a million people in 46 countries. Verbal accolades can’t do it justice. It must be seen to be truly savoured. It is a powerhouse of polish, poise and precision.
Importantly though, not everything has to be performed perfectly. Challenges are set that keep pushing the boundaries. Some are met and others attempted repeatedly. The message that sends, namely that endeavour is its own reward, is noteworthy. All up then, 10,000 Hours is phenomenal. It is on at Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne, until 25th January, 2026.
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Kaleidoscope (Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt) – theatre review
- Identity (The Australian Ballet) – ballet and dance review
- Circus 1903 (Arts Centre Melbourne) – circus review
Alex First is the editor of The Blurb. Alex is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He also contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
