The 2026 edition of Perth's Fringe World Festival is set to host a spectacular world premiere. The contemporary circus company Cirquework will unveil its latest production, Gasha, at the Ice Cream Factory venue. This marks a significant international debut for the Japanese troupe, following their award-winning success in Australia.
From Anime Dreams to Circus Reality
The artistic force behind Cirquework is Mizuki Shinagawa, a 28-year-old aerialist from Tokyo. Her journey began in childhood, inspired by the flying trapeze scenes in the anime series Kaleido Star. A later visit to a Cirque du Soleil production solidified her ambition. "Later, I discovered aerial silks in Tokyo, and from that moment I committed my life to circus," Shinagawa says.
She recalls the early days of Japan's circus scene as extremely small, with few studios or teachers. Driven by a desire for world-class training, she moved to Montreal to study at the prestigious Ecole Nationale de Cirque (ENC). Graduating in 2018, her dedication paid off with a solo contract from Cirque du Soleil, where she performed in productions including Kooza.
The Birth of Cirquework and a New Vision
The COVID-19 pandemic saw Shinagawa return to Japan. There, in 2021, she connected with producer Kazuaki Matsumoto and founded Cirquework. The company's mission is to dynamise the Japanese circus world and create platforms for the next generation. Their first show, Renew, was followed by Yoah, which won the BankSA Best Circus Award at Adelaide Fringe for two consecutive years.
This success led Shinagawa to conceive a new work specifically for the Australian festival circuit. The result is Gasha, a production described as fusing the elegance of geisha with the explosive surprise of Japan's gashapon capsule toys. "It symbolises tradition, future and chaos," Shinagawa explains.
Gasha: A Sensory Circus Experience
Gasha is envisioned as a visual circus where acrobatics, dance, projections, and digital sound collide. It asks how Japan's pleasure-house and cabaret culture might be reimagined in the future. Shinagawa notes it is a deliberate contrast to the quiet, meditative Yoah. "Gasha is the opposite — futuristic, explosive and bold. It's more intense visually and energetically while still carrying Japanese aesthetics."
While Shinagawa will not perform in the piece herself, the cast features two aerial artists. The show is designed to create instinctive impact, focusing on beauty, chaos, and sensuality beyond verbal storytelling. "I hope each person feels their own emotions and interpretations beyond language," she says.
The world premiere season will run from January 21 to February 15, 2026, at the ICF: WAREHOUSE within the Ice Cream Factory in Perth. Shinagawa expresses genuine excitement about bringing the work to Fringe World, praising the festival's international and diverse nature as the perfect launchpad. "Australian audiences are expressive and honest, and I'm excited to see how they embrace this chaotic futuristic world."
Tickets for Gasha are available through the official Fringe World website at fringeworld.com.au.
