How long does it take to master a skill? In Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell’s answer is ten thousand hours of practice. This “ten thousand-hour rule” lies at the heart of Australian circus company Gravity & Other Myths’ new show, Ten Thousand Hours. Whether the rule holds true or not, the message is clear: the effort and time devoted to mastering a skill should never be underestimated.
The show begins with a modest start, a series of shoulder stands. But as the height rises to three people, and they begin to fall into others’ arms, the thrill intensifies. Kevin Beverley takes centre stage next, performing his warm-up routine in front of a packed Assembly Hall. But it introduces more layers: audience participation. With drummer Nick Martyn challenging him to warm up in a different style, Kevin takes it a step further by inviting suggestions from the audience.
From jazz to penguin, and even a Beyoncé-inspired routine, Kevin shows that you can warm up in any style you choose. In another section, an audience member is invited on stage as the group strikes intricate poses—those viral challenges often seen on social media—while the lucky participant races against the clock to sketch them, filling the room with laughter.
Ten Thousand Hours embraces both success and failures, with some mistakes appearing almost deliberate. From flipping water bottles to tossing fellow performers, the show blends excitement with lighthearted fun. Even during more challenging segments, like repeated attempts to balance on shoulders, failure becomes part of the experience. A giant clock looms in the background, counting down from ten thousand, tracking successes and failures or forming captivating patterns.
Ten Thousand Hours works beautifully as a meta-circus, offering a glimpse not only into the performance but into the rehearsal room where the magic was created. It is about itself.
At the Fringe, with thousands of shows happening every day, it’s easy to become judgmental and overlook the immense effort behind each hour of experience. Wearing their workout clothes, Gravity & Other Myths brings backstage preparation into the spotlight, turning their rehearsal process into a show of its own. They capture the mistakes, failures, sweat, and endless practice through humour, playful fun, smiling faces, and supportive energy: the 10,000 hours that go into creating the one hour we get to witness.
Image by Simon McClure provided to The Student for press use.