Wolfgang in the stars – CIRCA
Circa is one of the world’s great performing arts companies. Since 2004, they have toured 45+ countries, captivating over two million people with award-winning performances fuelled by their core values: quality, audacity, and humanity. Wolfgang in the Stars is a 45-minute music-fuelled circus space romp featuring young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on an interstellar adventure, combining gravity-defying acrobatics, live music, and stunning projections for audiences aged 3 and up.
Proposal – Create unique custom LED Starcloths featuring constellations on separate circuits, plus two functional doorways that seamlessly disappear into the starry backdrop when closed.
Process – Theatre Star’s team consulted with Circa’s production team and designers through detailed planning sessions to map constellation patterns, LED circuit layouts, and doorway placements within the stage curtains. To ensure a perfect fit and function Circa freighted the doorway sets to Theatre Star’s workroom. Multiple prototyping sessions ensured the cloth would not foul the doorway mechanisms whilst maintaining seamless visual aesthetics. Delivery aligned with the June 2025 world premiere at Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s Out of the Box Festival.
Challenges – Creating a large-scale LED Starcloth for global touring required maintaining a natural starfield appearance whilst incorporating constellation patterns on separate circuits. Functional doorways demanded intricate circuitry without compromising the cosmic backdrop. The theatre drapes needed to withstand rigorous circus performance whilst maintaining electrical integrity and visual appeal. All materials required AS1530 parts 2+3 flame retardant certification and touring durability.
Solutions – We selected our exclusive Infinity IFR Wool (black, 530gsm) as the basecloth, premium theatre wool providing perfect matt black appearance, excellent opaqueness, and superior touring durability. As inherently flame retardant material (AS1530 parts 2+3 certified), these stage curtains would NEVER require expensive treatments. Black IFR Flexicloth (280gsm) provided ideal lining with UV resistance and full compliance. Theatre Star’s team integrated quality ShowLED components, routing circuitry to create separate constellation circuits whilst maintaining random starfield aesthetics. LED Circuits were installed through specialised channels in the cloth sections covering the functional doorways to preserve visual integrity and electrical safety.
Outcome – Theatre Star’s custom LED Starcloths became a stunning centrepiece of the production. The show premiered to enthusiastic audiences at QPAC in June 2025, with the Brisbane Times awarding four stars. The Infinity IFR Wool basecloth provided perfect contrast for programmable LED constellations, creating a mesmerising celestial backdrop. Integrated doorways functioned flawlessly throughout the 2026 Australian tour across venues including Riverside Theatres Parramatta and Mackay Entertainment Centre.
The success demonstrates Theatre Star’s expertise in creating sophisticated custom theatre drapes for world-class contemporary circus, joining their portfolio of prestigious clients including Melbourne Theatre Company and Bangarra Dance Company.
Photo credits David Kelly
