Live Review: Katie Noonan

When met with the prowess of Katie Noonan, the mind boggles as to how she's not more widely renowned. Arguably one of Australia's most brilliant vocalists, Noonan is also a gifted composer and pianist, as this collaboration with Brisbane-based contemporary circus company, Circa, proves.

Inspired by the tales of Australia's first female convicts, Noonan and Circa took the audience on a journey through the eyes of these women, encapsulating their strength, determination and beauty. An impressive amount of research went into this project, with several songs based on individual survivors such as the face of our $20 note, Mary Reibey; recurrent troublemaker, Ellen Scott; and convict-turned-First Lady, Esther Johnston.

Noonan's soaring soprano and poise are matched only by the deft performance of Circa's acrobatic dancers, Melissa Knowles, Kate Muntz and Jessica Ward. Oftentimes jaw-dropping and nail-biting, these three young women balanced, contorted and moved individually, and as one unit, with near-precision. Largely acrobatic, integrating hula hoops and aerial slings, they brought a graceful, thrilling and surprisingly fitting visual element to the emotive music.

Accompanied by a string quartet, double bass and banjo/mandolin/guitar, Noonan's composition manages to accurately reflect colonial Australia, incorporating strong traditional folk elements into the contemporary classical score. Peppered with Noonan's signature complex phrasing, the pieces are melancholic and uplifting all at once. Love-Song-Circus also included 2011's Sweet One, a beautiful ode to friendship co-written with another extraordinary local talent, Sia.

Love-Song-Circus pays tribute to fierce, inspiring Australian women. It's only apt then that it is carried out by a troupe of such talented female performers, and ably captained by the inimitable Noonan, a fierce and inspiring Australian woman who more young girls should look up to.