The week-long Sentosa Buskers Festival returns to the sunny island on 6 September, with all kinds of quirky and interesting street acts by some of the best performers in Singapore and around the world. Here, we speak to Philippe Dreyfuss from Switzerland, formerly from the renowned Cirque du Soleil and one half of Les Dudes, on how he ran away and joined the circus, met his girlfriend, and the importance of being original.
Hi, Philippe! What got you both started as a street circus act?
Francis (Gadbois, from Canada) and I both started out solo. When I turned 16, I travelled around and busked in the summer. After graduating from the Montreal National Circus School in 2000, I worked for different circus companies, but I was always busking in my free time and improving my solo show. Two years ago, Francis and I were sharing the same pitch in Quebec City and decided to do a show together, and Les Dudes was born.
What are people’s reactions when you first tell them you’re a busker?
People always think that we do this for fun and not for our livelihoods. But for me, busking is a credit card to the world, because you can do a show and make enough money to travel and eat anywhere you are. My friends and family know that busking is just as valuable to me as performing in a circus. My heart’s desire is to busk around the world.
Francis Gadbois (left) and Philippe Dreyfuss (right)
What are the most difficult stunts you had to master?
Our show is based on comedy, and we incorporate a lot of circus stunts. I think balancing and doing a triple backflip on a small teeterboard, for me, is definitely the toughest stunt I had to master.
What stunts do your audiences enjoy seeing the most?
Most people enjoy watching the amazing final act, where we juggle items while riding a bicycle.
Tell us about an unforgettable busking experience.
A memorable and pleasant experience happened in Finland. A female volunteer I chose to help out in the first show came to talk with me a few days later in a bar. She then travelled to Quebec to see me, and she is now my girlfriend.
That’s really sweet! What are some good travel habits you and Francis have developed since starting out?
Before the performances, we did not really have any habits set in place. Today, we travel a lot by aeroplane, and I always pack my stuff in the same order and put them in the same pockets so I make sure that I have not forgotten anything.
What are your impressions of our little tropical island?
I visited Singapore when I was 11 years old with my parents. I have a couple of images in my head, but I think the city has changed a lot in 25 years! However, I do remember the orchid garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Do you have any tips to share for budding performers/buskers?
Work hard, find something close to who you are, and be original. You cannot learn busking from a book; you need to go out and give it a try. It’ll probably take you about a hundred shows to understand more about how it works and how to make your show better.
Catch Philippe and Francis of Les Dudes in action at the Sentosa Buskers Festival, happening from 6 to 13 September 2014. The festival runs from 4:30pm-10:30pm daily. Beach Plaza, Palawan Beach, Sentosa Island, Singapore 0999816. Entry is free.
Main image: Ariel Manx