Alongside the Head First Acrobats, he will star in Elixir Revived, the headline show of the Sydney Fringe Festival.
“I’m excited to bring the show to Sydney,” he says. “It’s fun, the preparation has gone really well and I can’t wait to perform for an Australian audience.”
Joseph’s circus journey began early, with seven years of training at the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, where he learned acrobatics, juggling, trampoline and many other disciplines. From a young age, he and other students took part in full scale productions.
“We trained in a wide range of skills and performed regularly. Those experiences really prepared us for the professional world and to become artists,” he recalls.
His career took flight with Circus 1903, a Cirque du Soleil production that led to international tours across the United States, Asia and major entertainment capitals. With Elixir Revived, he now returns to the Australian stage as a lead performer.
The show has been described as “Cirque du Soleil meets Magic Mike”, but Joseph prefers to explain it differently. “We’re four scientists trying to create the elixir of life, testing it on ourselves,” he reveals, “It’s a high energy show, full of comedy and circus acts. The audience laughs from start to finish.”
What sets the Head First Acrobats apart is their ability to balance comedy with danger. “We perform risky acts that demand total focus, but because we work with professionals and carefully choreographed routines, we can switch straight into comedy afterwards. It all comes down to trust in the team,” he explains.
Pushing limits is part of the process. “We train hard to see how far we can go. Mutual trust is essential, you know your partner will do their part to keep everything safe,” he adds.
Behind the spectacle lies weeks of intense preparation. To get Elixir Revived stage ready, the troupe dedicated an entire month to rehearsals, five or six days a week.
“Sometimes we trained up to eight hours a day. To keep up that pace, we alternated between physical and non-physical sessions. Five straight hours of acrobatics leaves you wrecked, so we planned our training based on how tired we were from the day before,” he reveals.
The attention to detail also extends to the comic elements, carefully timed with the acrobatics to keep the rhythm and the mood light. What drives him isn’t just the adrenaline of spectacular stunts, like completing 64 backflips in 15 minutes, but the knowledge that he’s living his dream.
“I’ve always wanted to be a circus performer, and being able to do it full time is my greatest motivation. Working with a team of friends makes it even better,” he says.
Beyond the professional stage, Joseph remains deeply connected to his roots.
“My family is from Sicily; my grandparents were from the island of Salina. My grandfather came to Australia alone at 14 and met my grandmother in Sydney. When I started out in the circus, they were terrified. They’d always say, ‘Don’t climb up there, you’ll hurt yourself!’” he recalls with a smile.
Despite their initial fears, Joseph always felt their support.
A trip to Italy, however, is still on the horizon. “I’ve never been. I wanted to go with my grandparents, but it wasn’t possible,” he shares. “Now I dream of going with my dad and brother. That would be really special.”
AJ Saltalamacchia and the Head First Acrobats will bring Sydney a show that blends acrobatics, comedy and their signature raw, playful spirit.
Elixir Revived runs from August 29 to October 12 at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park, promising to dazzle and delight audiences with its explosive energy.
