Fabulous Risk: Danger and performance in circus and sideshow

Nov 14, 2006

Australian National Circus Conference 2006

Roll up, roll up . . . this December enjoy the heat, sand and sawdust of Fabulous Risk, a unique conference and performance event in Wollongong’s Stuart Park! Major artists from the international circus industry will mix it with leading academics to talk danger – artistic, political and practical – in Australia’s booming circus arts.

It will be presented by the University of Wollongong, Circus Monoxide and the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association.

FEATURE EVENTS:

1. OPENING EVENT: Friday 1 December at 10.30am in the Big Top

Join Wollongong Lord Mayor Cr Alex Darling, Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton and local elder, Auntie Mary Davis for the launch of the conference, followed by an opening address by Anni Davey from Circus Oz, and a heart-in-mouth circus performance by Circus Monoxide. For the full conference program visit the website at: www.uow.edu.au/arts/ccas

2. SPOTLIGHT on CANADA: Friday 1 December at 3.30pm in the Big Top

The Government of Canada and the Association for Canadian Studies in Australia and New Zealand will sponsor a major session on the impact of Canadian circuses on the world, from Cirque du Soleil to small independent companies. Canadian guest speakers will include Professor Emeritus Paul Bouissac from the University of Toronto, and Professor Jamie Skidmore from Memorial University in Newfoundland. More information is available at: http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/ccas/programs/2006/circus/

3. CLOSING NIGHT SHOW: Sunday 3 December at 6.30pm in the Big Top

Open to local audiences and with the inimitable Drew Fairley as MC, the evening features death defying feats by the Illawarra’s own emerging circus stars, from women’s circus troupe Circus WOW, children’s circus ‘Half High’ and POG, object manipulators extraordinaire. Punters can also expect hilarious and dangerous acts by students from the National Institute of Circus Arts from Melbourne, the Flying Fruit Fly Circus from Albury, Aerialize in Sydney, Brewarrina Youth Circus, Circus Monoxide cast members, and artists from Canada, New Zealand, Brisbane, Perth and Cairns.

To book tickets for the Closing Night Big Top Show visit the circus conference website at: http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/ccas/programs/2006/circus/

Or purchase your tickets from the big top box office in Stuart Park, open Sunday 3 December, two hours before show time.

4. EXHIBITION & PERFORMANCES: Saturday 2 December, at 7pm, at Wollongong City Gallery

Join conference delegates for a colourful and surprising exhibition of circus and sideshow photos and memorabilia, with performances by local artists.

THE WHO’S WHO:

Conference speakers include an exciting mix of industry ‘heavy weights’ and academic leaders from Circus Oz, the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Legs on the Wall, Circus Monoxide, Aerialize, the National Institute of Circus Arts, Erth Visual and Physical Theatre, The University of Wollongong, La Trobe University, Charles Sturt University–Bathurst, Donna Jackson, Paul Woodhead, Antonella Casella, Kim Kaos, Simone O’Brien, Kate Reid, Jane Mullet, Shep Huntley, Scott Wright, Tiger ‘Lil, Noel Tovey, James Skidmore (Memorial University, Newfoundland), Tamara Campbell, Michael Cohen, Scott Grayland, Imogen Kelly, Annabelle Lines, Peta Tait, Simone O’Brien, Richard Broome and Paul Bouissac (University of Toronto).

The 2006 National Circus Conference in Wollongong is being supported by:

The University of Wollongong (the Centre for Canadian-Australian Studies, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Creative Arts and the Office of Community & Partnerships), Circus Monoxide, the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association, the Government of Canada, Legs on the Wall, the Association for Canadian Studies in Australia and New Zealand, the City of Wollongong, Cultural Services and the Office of the Lord Mayor, Dymocks, the Wollongong City Gallery and the South Coast Writers Centre.

WHERE: the Circus Monoxide Big Top and the Novotel Hotel, North Wollongong

WHEN: Friday 1 December, Saturday 2 December and Sunday 3 December 2006

CONTACT:

* For Circus Conference Show Information: Alicia Battestini, Artistic Director, Circus Monoxide, 0403 138 333

* For Conference Program Information: Associate Professor Gerry Turcotte, Head, School of English Literatures, Philosophy and Languages and Director, Centre for Canadian–Australian Studies, University of Wollongong on (02) 4221 4140

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128