Known for throwing back pints of beer while fearlessly throwing themselves around on stage, all-female Australian troupe YUCK Circus have now partnered with local Edinburgh brewery Pilot Beer to help raise money for charity SHE Scotland during this year’s Festival Fringe.
YUCK Circus director Georgia Deguara said the Pilot Beer partnership provided an “incredible opportunity to not only decrease the stigma around ‘unladylike’ drinking habits, but to also encourage more female representation in the brewing industry."
Since winning the 2019 Fringe World top-tier Martin Sims award and Adelaide Fringe Best Emerging Artist with their self-titled debut, YUCK Circus has been touring internationally, picking up dozens of awards and 5-star reviews, and thrilling thousands from the public along the way.
The troupe uses impressive acrobatics and aerial performance to explore the grotesque nature of beauty standards, bougie art and to challenge gender misconceptions. Presenting their real experiences in full comedy, YUCK makes ‘gross’ topics as inclusive as they are entertaining.
Karen Anderson, founder of SHE Scotland, said: “The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has always been about bringing community together, and we are so grateful that YUCK Circus and Pilot Beer have decided to support our charity in their partnership this year. The funds raised will go towards our many programs and workshops, which are designed to increase self-esteem, build relationships and improve the life chances of women and girls across Scotland.”
The YUCK Circus Upside Down Lager will be available to purchase in cans from Pilot Beer and behind selected bars in Edinburgh from late July. A portion of sales will be donated to SHE Scotland under Pilot Beer’s Drinklusion scheme.
YUCK Circus is performing at the Palais du Variété in Assembly George Square Gardens from 02 – 28 August this Edinburgh Fringe.
Tickets are available now from the Assembly Festival box office, www.assemblyfestival.com.
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Can you tell me how the company decided on its name (YUCK)?
YUCK is all about talking about 'taboo' or 'gross' topics- think periods, binge drinking, catcalls. It's a conversation about gender, stereotypes, and growing up. Saying that though- there's nothing really that yuck about it- every topic we address is done through high-flying acrobatics and ripper comedy. We want to celebrate strong women on stage, and encourage audience to feel comfortable to turn to their partner, their mum, or their mate and confidently pick up on what can sometimes be an uncomfortable conversation.
What makes SHE Scotland a good fit for YUCK?
Oh what a partnership, right?! We are absolutely STOKED that our mates from Pilot have brewed our very own YUCK Lager. Better yet, through their Drinklusion program we can support SHE Scotland - an organisation of powerhouse ladies, supporting Edinburgh's youth. Empowering and inspiring young women is right up our alley- both with our show content and the social impact we strive for as a company.
How explicit is the narrative within your shows? How do you approach the making process?
Everything we do is in larrikin humour- the type of banter Aussies are known for, cheeky and always ready to take the piss. With that in mind we don't stick to a narrative, and we don't dwell on a topic- we'll pick up on what we think is funny, and move on to the next act. Something that is consistent in all our works is the feeling of celebration- no matter what the show or what the content, the audience will always leave feeling like they've had such a good time.
How does the Fringe rate in terms of female identified work?
Great question! Having a platform that is open access allows a bit more freedom when it comes to programming work and diversifying the line up. In Edinburgh specifically there seems to be an encouraging push for more female representation. Check out the #FemiFringe guide developed by F-Bomb Theatre for an extensive list of female-led works, their locations, and the legends behind the content!
What is bougie art and how do you confront it?
There is always a place for bougie art, for the fourth wall, and for serious stage-work. There's also a place for sculling beers, chucking flips, and talking shit. We fall into the second category. Our work is a representation of authenticity; we want to be your mates, we want to have a laugh, and we want to bring people together. Unfortunately in our industry there can be some places where, as a cast, we aren't seen to 'fit.' YUCK was born out of creating a space for ourselves, celebrating different sizes, varied skills, and genuine personalities. Creating this niche has been excellent for us as artists, and celebrated by audiences around the globe.
YUCK Circus is a West Aussie production company keen on championing the female voice across live performance. Onstage, behind the tech desk, in a creative or managing role; it’s all about giving femme-identifying individuals a hot go to show the world what they’ve got.
YUCK comes from regional, remote, and isolated towns from all corners of Australia and are passionate about sharing their work and strengthening communities.
Pilot Beer introduced Drinklusion on the belief that beer is for everyone, a fundraising initiative that supports organisations that promote inclusivity across a variety of forms. For every can sold, 2p goes into the Drinklusion fund, and this money is then distributed across Pilot’s charity partners.
SHE Scotland is an Edinburgh-based charity that, through programs, workshops and mentoring activities, supports girls and young women to become empowered and inspired
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