Circa Cairns, a pioneering First Nations-led circus ensemble, is set to challenge perceptions of Australia's tropical wet season through their innovative performance, THE WET, premiering at The Round in 2025.

Wakka Wakka man and Artistic Director Harley Mann's creative approach revealed the uniqueness of Far North Queensland's landscape.

"When I first got to Cairns, the landscape was dramatically different," he said.

"We wanted to capture how the landscape shifts and changes."

The ensemble conducted an immersive creative process, spending two and a half weeks on a tour across the region.

They trained and observed during the wet season, developing a performance that chronicles four distinct moments: indicative events, animal movement, periods of confinement, and the ultimate storm's release.

"We went on tour, set up camp, and waited for rain," Mr Mann said.

"We watched how rain informed the landscape, observed animal behaviours, and explored how humidity affected our acrobatics."

Beyond artistic innovation, the project aims to increase First Nations representation in professional circus arts.

"Particularly in Australia, there's resistance to the idea of arts as a career," Mr Mann said.

"We're articulating that these are professional jobs – our acrobats get paid a salary to practice and perform circus."

The production challenges negative stereotypes about the wet season, reframing it from an "off-season" to a period of beauty and necessity.

"People often consider the wet season negative," he said.

"But we observed the necessity, the beauty, and the hidden nuances of this season."

Drawing parallels between traditional Indigenous storytelling and circus performance, Mr Mann highlighted their inherent connection.

"The way Indigenous communities communicate and teach stories is very similar to circus culture," he said.

"It's challenging to learn circus from books – it's about oral and physical communication practices."

Internationally, Australian circus is renowned for its artistic qualities.

However, First Nations narratives have been historically underrepresented.

THE WET seeks to rectify this, showcasing the rich generational stories embedded in the country's landscape.

"Internationally, Australia is recognised for incredible circuses," Mr Mann said.

"But when people think of Australian circus, they're not thinking of First Nations stories.

"This opportunity helps demonstrate the millennia of stories embedded in this country."

The performance features a carefully crafted soundscape, including composed tracks and authentic rain sounds. Mr Mann's ultimate goal transcends emotional manipulation, focusing on audience engagement and artistic risk-taking.

"Theater and circus can make us feel more alive and more connected," he said.

"Instead of deciding whether you'll like it, just go.

"If you're not enjoying it, you can always leave halfway through."

THE WET will be performed exclusively at The Round, with a special subscription period running until January 13 2025, and individual tickets available from January 14 2025.

More information is available on The Round's website.