Why this bold take on Swan Lake has everyone talking.

Thanks to our brand partner, Sydney Opera House

Duck Pond by Circa is touching, funny and jaw-droppingly impressive. And it's on its way to the Sydney Opera House.

As a delightful jumble of the romantic Swan Lake ballet and the playful fairytale The Ugly Duckling, this contemporary circus performance is proof that something might look different from any theatre you've ever watched before. It will likely be the most beautiful thing you've ever seen.

Circa, Australia's trailblazing contemporary circus company, takes ballet's most beloved classic and completely flips the narrative. With soaring aerials, a sequinned duck army, burlesque black swans and a cheeky twist on the tales you thought you knew, Duck Pond is a high-octane fusion of beauty, comedy and skill. So. Much. Skill. But more on that later.

Take it from me — and the many enthusiastic audience members who swapped gasps and laughs for a standing ovation — this is epic.

It's got quirk, it's got style, it's beautiful and it's sexy. It's Swan Lake, but not as you know it. Circa has skilfully transformed the world's most loved ballet into a thrilling performance filled with aerobatics and heart.

Image: Circa, Pia Johnson.

In the three-act show, you'll see elegant swans, hapless princes, quacking sequinned duckies, a pillow fight for the ages and a black swan in red heels. Duck Pond is a touching story of self-belief and identity.

When you sit down to witness an internationally acclaimed, award-winning contemporary circus company, you know the acrobatics will be something to behold. But this unexpected mix of ballet and circus was charming, soft, powerful and bold. I don't know how they do it, but I was equally enthralled in the gentle moments as I was when the feathers started to fly. What a ride.

I guess it's like the graceful glide you see when ducks are swimming on a pond, yet underneath the water it's a frenzy of webbed feet and splashing. Circa manages to pull off a physical performance with ease but we know the work they put in to get there would have been hectic.

Image: Circa, Pia Johnson.

Leading the way in contemporary Australian circus, Circa pushes boundaries — a hybrid of movement, dance, theatre and circus.

The show of physicality, the things their bodies can do and the heights the ensemble reach on stage — without so much as a harness or crash pad — is truly awesome.

Each performer has a chance in the spotlight, highlighting their skill set with grace and personality. Acrobatics, aerial straps, loops and rope, tumbling, hula hoops, silks, Chinese pole and a cloudswing on the stage are a remarkable sight.

Pair it with a beautiful, fluid set and incredible costumes that emphasise the performers' movement and you'll feel like your rousing applause at the end still isn't enough to express how much you loved the show.

Image: Circa, Pia Johnson.

Reaching more than two million people in over 45 countries across six continents, Circa is an Australian company, based in Brisbane led by Yaron Lifschitz. Recognising his outstanding contribution to the performing arts, Lifschitz was named by the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) as the recipient of its 2025 Distinguished Artist Award, joining the company of Leonard Bernstein, Joan Sutherland and Uncle Jack Charles.

"Duck Pond is truly iconoclastic — it has sophistication, beauty, humour, silliness, a classic good versus evil storyline, everything you want to see in an enchanting live show," Lifschitz said.

"It also has a stunning array of awe-inspiring acrobatic languages for audiences to sink their teeth into, showcasing the best of this brilliant creative ensemble."

Don't be fooled by this production's humble name, or premise of the little grey duckling trying to find her place in a bevy of honking swans. A lesson in not judging a book by its cover, I found this show was an exuberant swan just waiting for the chance to flap its wings.

Circa will fly into the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall this summer, with a strictly limited season of Duck Pond from January 9-12, 2026.

Book your tickets to Duck Pond, showing this summer at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

Feature image: Circa, Pia Johnson.

Contemporary Performance at the Sydney Opera House offers audiences entertainment in all its forms. From jaw-dropping circus and spectacular magic to side-splitting comedy, stories that capture the imagination told through dance or sung by powerful voices, to immersive experiences and cabaret that will get the heart-rate racing – the program guarantees a great night out for any occasion. It presents boundary-pushing performances, contemporary retellings of the classics and the productions and icons at the heart of popular culture – all brought to life by the crème de la crème of artists, performers and directors from Australia and around the world.