They’ve been described as the human form of the Minions- bright, funny and crazy- and they’re ready to splash their way onto the Ipswich Civic Centre stage with a mix of slapstick, comedy and acrobatics.
The Splash Test Dummies are made up of comedians and acrobats, Jamie Bretman, Jack Coleman and Simon Wright.
The trio met in circus school in Melbourne and got on so well that they decided to make a show together after graduating from the National Institute of Circus arts in 2012.
Jamie says that while their shows are marketed to kids, they appeal to all ages.
“It’s definitely not just for kids,” Mr Bretman said.
“Critics have likened our performances to Pixar films, and everyone loves a Pixar film.
“There’ll be water fights and synchronised swimming on unicycles which the kids love, and there’ll be some jokes in there for the adults as well.
“It’s quite interactive and full of some incredible circus skills.”
Despite the physicality of their performance, Jamie said the three of them don’t need to do much to stay in peak fitness for acrobatic stunt work.
“We’ve trained so much for so many years, that training is more about maintenance and developing further skills,” he said.
Jamie’s love of circus skills dates back to his childhood.
“I learned how to juggle three balls when I was 12, and then after doing some gymnastics in high school, I started picking up different circus skills and doing acrobatics for fun,” he said.
He later used those skills in his job as a youth worker.
“I did lots of circus work with the kids. There’s so many positives to it,” Mr Bretman said.
“It’s non-competitive but you can really achieve things, and when you juggle, you’re using both sides of your brain.”
After spending years to encourage young people to follow their dreams, Jamie took his own advice, signing up to circus school and taking the first steps towards turning his passion into a career.
The move paid off, with the group’s first production, Trash Test Dummies, winning critical acclaim and sparking a global tour to America, the UK, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Ireland, and around Australia and New Zealand.
One third of the trio, Simon Wright, has also become a familiar face to young kids in Australia and China, scoring a role as Zap the Postman in the hit ABC Kids’ collaboration with Chinese network CCTV, Hoopla Doopla.
Jamie says the Dummies have no plans on slowing down.
“We’re always thinking, ‘What’s next?’ and ‘How do we make it better?’
“We also stay involved in the community, and often when we’re touring, we run workshops with kids.
Next up for the group is directing and producing a new show, Don’t Mess with the Dummies, which stars an all-female cast of circus performers.
“Our success means that we can employ more circus skills artists as well and help the industry by spreading more work around.”
The Splash Test Dummies is on at the Ipswich Civic Centre on Wednesday, 3 July. Buy tickets here.
