Through their Sidesault program, Circus Oz has announce a full schedule of artform development for the balance of 2017. Over the coming months, Sidesault will present a festival of experimental work from independent companies, the premiere of an intimate rock opera, a new artistic collaboration and a series of master classes and creative developments with some of Australia’s most exciting and innovative circus artists.
“Sidesault impels us to take a sideways approach to our sector – it explores new ideas and creates connections with active and innovative independent circus artists and companies,” explains Circus Oz Senior Artistic Associate, Antonella Casella. “Each week Circus Oz contributes over 200 hours of artist wages, production costs and in kind support to the circus sector through Sidesault.”
“It’s a diverse, curated program that enables circus artists to explore and develop ideas through collaborations with specialist trainers; provides the support to create and present new works; or offers the in kind use of our purpose-built rehearsal studios and equipment.”
Circus Oz Artistic Director, Rob Tannion, says ongoing circus development is an obligation and an opportunity for the company, “As a leader of contemporary circus, it is absolutely our responsibility to initiate, stimulate and support our sector’s development. It becomes a virtuous circle where ultimately we all become the beneficiaries of this rich exploration, innovation and cross-fertilisation.”
September – Circus Oz BLAKflip
Building on the success of Chasing Smoke at Yirramboi earlier this year, the Circus Oz BLAKflip masterclass will fire up again with some of Australia’s emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander circus artists to develop new works and acts with circus trainers and performance experts.
October – Circus Oz Strong Women
In this year’s Melbourne Festival, the Circus Oz Strong Women participants will perform as part of Taylor Mack’s A 24 Decade History of Popular Music. The early suffragette movement and the contest of land ownership in colonial and post-colonial countries will inspire the Strong Women performance.
November – Sidesault at The Melba
Over two weeks in November at The Melba Spiegeltent in Collingwood, Circus Oz will curate the inaugural festival of experimental circus, Sidesault at The Melba, and present four independent companies with new works that include a political sideshow, a feminist circus performance and an edgy circus cabaret.
November to December – Stacks On! education show
In response to the Victorian Government respectful relationships curriculum, Circus Oz has developed a new education show, Stacks On!, premiering at The Melba Spiegeltent (and including circus skills workshops for school audiences) and will culminate in a Tin Top Tour to three locations in western Victoria offering free workshops and shows to the local communities.
December – The Strange and Spektakulär Lives of Otto & Astrid
Following creative development earlier this year, Circus Oz and Die Roten Punkte will premiere The Strange and Spektakulär Lives of Otto & Astrid at the Meat Market. It will be an intimate, circus infused, rock opera telling the true story of the rise to fame of the best rock band in the world.
August to December – Other companies
Throughout the remainder of the year, the Circus Oz Sidesault program is supporting the following independent artists and companies with in kind rehearsal space: TEOC, Dislocate, Blue Studios, A Good Catch and Australia/UK Pole Duo Tarn Scully and Laura Moy.
For more information, visit: www.circusoz.com for details.
Image: Circus Oz Strong Women – photo by Tania Jovanovic