In the 1980s a young jazz pianist named David Bates ran away with a cabaret band to the other side of the world. A chance encounter with the now-iconic Spiegeltent gave him an idea — if he bought this unloved structure it had the potential to breathe new life into cabaret and variety acts for the 21st century. Bates is the creator of the legendary La Clique, which has been thrilling audiences worldwide for over 20 years. 

Also Harley Mann, founder of Na Djinang Circus, reveals the power of the circus to shape the way we see the world in In Place, and ABC reporter Emily Bissland swaps the newsroom for the stage — as a cast member in her town's production of Mary Poppins — to find out what makes community theatre so special.