Theshopping and eating is always good, but Cuba Street is also fast becoming Wellington’s street for outdoor performance.

Hot on the heels of Fiona Gunter-Firth’s The Cuba Street Project, comes In and Out of Context, a variety show of circus, dance and street theatre by Wellington group Co Op Co-operative Ltd. Part of the Fringe Festival, performer and circus director Cally O’Neill has joined with choreographer Maria Dabrowska and burlesque performer Tanya Drewery (alias Magenta Diamond) to bring a show that tackles the “confusion” between street art and advertising.

“Our message is about creating public art space,” O’Neill says. “While advertisers can buy public space, artists can’t. We’re posing the question if there was as much public art space as advertising, what would the effect be?”

O’Neill is an architect by profession, but got the circus buzz after seeing a performance of Fuse Circus at the Cuba Street night market. She began circus school at the Wellington Circus Trust where she met Dabrowska and Drewery, and formed Co Op Co-operative Ltd.  For In and Out of Context the three have taken advantage of the Cuba Street’s outdoor stage by the Left Bank and the support of local shop owners keen to see theatre performed on the street.

“Much of the action takes place in the air on a giant ladder,” O’Neill says. “It’s a series of skits with dialogue and a sound track, and people will also get to take part by making their own signs as part of the show.”

She says it’s an adult themed show, but family friendly.

“Kids won’t get all the messages, but they will enjoy the action.”

In and Out of Context will be performed over six nights from February 28.

“The support of Cuba Street businesses has been awesome. They’re keen to see more performance on the street. Anything that brings crowds to the area is good for business.”