The show, staged by founder and creative director Jacques Heim, features 22 performers who navigate massive geometric structures that roll, pivot and swing while the artists climb, balance, hang and leap, creating a surreal landscape that Heim describes as an “escape from the ordinary lives” of today’s world.
Heim, a 62‑year‑old former punk who migrated to the United States three decades ago, said the concept grew out of his frustration with what he calls the “crazy” state of affairs in the United States, citing the Trump administration’s 2025 cut to National Endowment for the Arts funding as a catalyst.
Diavolo first gained international attention after its 2017 appearance on America’s Got Talent, where Simon Cowell praised the company and it advanced to the finals. The troupe has since performed at high‑profile events, including a routine with Dua Lipa at the 2024 Grammys and a 2014 show at Melbourne’s Arts Centre.
Heim’s background blends dance, architecture and circus‑like danger. After studying dance at CalArts, he launched Diavolo in 1999 and directed Cirque du Soleil’s Las Vegas production Kà in 2005, an experience he calls his “PhD” in large‑scale performance.
Beyond the stage, Diavolo runs a veteran‑focused workshop program launched in 2016 that uses the company’s physically demanding style to help participants cope with PTSD; the initiative earned Heim a Meritorious Civilian Service Medal.
The Brisbane Festival marks Diavolo’s first performance in the city, expanding the company’s Australian footprint after its earlier Melbourne appearance. Organisers hope the daring production will attract new audiences and highlight the intersection of art, engineering and social commentary.