The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is proud to present the graduate showcase, ADRIFT – curated by Tegan Carmichael and devised by NICA’s third-year students, showing 9 – 13 December at NICA National Circus Centre in Prahran.
To be cast adrift is not to be lost, but to be liberated. It is an allegory for the end of one journey and beginning of another. Before our students close the final chapter, we turn back the pages and reflect on the path that brought them here.
Of every idea scribbled, workshopped, buried, and dug up again. Each student searched within to find their stories, their quirks, and elements of connection.
Now, they approach the threshold and leave behind the relics of student life. With a clean slate, they’ll write a new narrative, and from the student emerges a professional artist bound for new horizons.
“Over the past three years, the graduating cohort of 2025 have approached their studies at NICA with curiosity, enthusiasm, a little bit of cheek and a lot of sass,” said Tegan Carmichael, Senior Educator, NICA.
“They have challenged and supported each other to expand their technical and artistic boundaries, developing into a versatile ensemble and professional artists with distinct performance qualities.”
“Each graduate leaves NICA ready to make their mark on the industry, with their final showcase exploring what it looks like to stand at the helm, with the confidence to navigate the unknown before them,” says Carmichael.
“My three years at NICA have been full of growth and challenges that have helped me build resilience and confidence in myself as a person and a performer,” reflects Paige Dorrity, who is soon to graduate.
“As I enter the industry, I want to keep creating and performing work that feels unique and authentic to who I am, making sure to have lots of fun, laughter and silly business along the way.”
Join our 2025 graduates as they perform their final acts, featuring aerials, trio acrobatics, Chinese pole, roue cyr, hoop diving, hair hang, and more in Adrift.
The ADRIFT ensemble includes Alex Burris, Bethany White, Bridie Callahan, Christina Godwin, Dakoda Barr, Georgia Pozorski, Hannah Dickers, Holly Jobson, Imogen Drury, Immy Turecek, Jam Travers, Lachlan MacDonald, Naz Turner, Paige Dorrity, Sammy George, Saskia Gallasch, Shianne Crampton, Talia Sofizade, Taliesha Hall-Huynh and Zephyr Patterson.
Curated by Tegan Carmichael. Devised by NICA’s graduating class, with Artistic Consultancy by Alonso Pineda, Kyall Shanks, Velma Vouloir and Nicci Wilkes. Supported by Katie Cawthorne, Linda Satradipradja and Juliana Neves.
ADRIFT
National Circus Centre, 39 – 59 Green Street, Prahran
Season: 10 – 13 December 2025 (preview: 9 December)
Information and Bookings: www.nica.com.au
Image: Paige Dorrity – courtesy of NICA