For acrobats Alyssa Moore and Jacob Randell, a shared passion for performance – and an unexpected mutual appreciation for condiments – paved the way for a real-life love story that survived a global pandemic.
A Circus Meeting and a Fateful Reunion
The pair first crossed paths in 2010 at a circus festival in Bathurst, where Alyssa, then in her final year of high school from Ulladulla, was impressed by Jake's troupe from Adelaide. Years later, after training at the National Institute of Circus Arts and building a freelance career in Melbourne, Alyssa spotted an opportunity. Gravity & Other Myths, the company Jake's troupe had become, was seeking a flyer. She applied and, after a Zoom interview, landed a month-long contract, flying to join them in Austria in December 2018.
Tour Life, Tacos, and a Secret Spark
Life on the road fostered a close, platonic bond. "We bonded over a shared love of condiments," Alyssa recalls, often splitting meals after shows. Despite having a boyfriend back in Australia, she was drawn to Jake's humour and energy. The dynamic shifted in 2019 after her relationship ended and Jake made his interest known. During the tour in California, enjoying tacos on the beach, their connection deepened from tour buddies to something more.
Wanting to keep their romance private from the company, they began having secret rendezvous. One defining moment came during a European winter in Paris. "Huddled under a spooky bridge by the Canal de l’Ourcq we were like two little penguins," Alyssa says. Those stolen hours together, chatting and kissing in the freezing cold, cemented their feelings.
A Pandemic Pivot to a Shared Future
In early 2020, as the world shut down, a fortunate booking brought the troupe back to Australia. Jake had an apartment in Adelaide, and Alyssa moved straight in. The stressful years that followed were navigated together, their relationship having evolved organically from a 'showmance' into a lasting partnership. They continue to tour with Gravity & Other Myths for most of the year, still sharing meals, but spending less time hiding under bridges.
Alyssa Moore and Jacob Randell will perform in Gravity & Other Myths' production 'Ten Thousand Hours' at Arts Centre Melbourne from 13 to 25 January.
