Who is Spenser Inwood?
Determined, passionate, inquisitive, logical circus performer. A feminist, a recent homeowner, quick to laugh and ready for life-long learning.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I’m not really sure what I would do differently I have been striving to get to the point of being able to perform full time for a number of years, so I’m currently just enjoying that I’m not stuck in a body that doesn’t want to work anymore.
Who inspires you and why?
Most of my biggest inspirations are other female artists in and around the circus industry. Including one of my coaches Anna Shelper (swinging trapeze artist, has performed with Cirque du Soleil and Circus Oz). She was a mentor and a coach and now a very dear friend. I am also very lucky to work alongside some very talented women and men.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Keep funding the arts, so that we can keep sharing stories and making smiles.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Anywhere I haven’t been I really. I love getting lost in a new place.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take then to, and why?
I would recommend going to the First People’s exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. I only saw it recently and I learnt so much about the history of the First People of Victoria. It’s a must see.
What are you currently reading?
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
What are you currently listening to?
Death, Sex and Money. A podcast by WNYC studios or Pandora.
Happiness is?
Horizontal Monday when we’re on the road touring. At the end of the long week and we have our first day off, you don’t do anything but stay horizontal. In Montreal, on our first day off, we went to a spa and basically lay horizontal all day in white fluffy robes.
What does the future hold for you?
Who knows, but I love a good adventure.
Spenser Inwood has been following her passion for circus since the age of eight. Her formative years of performance development were carried out at the Flying Fruit Fly Circus where she gained ten years of national and international experience.
After graduating from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, she continued to perform both in Australia and across the globe, working closely on the development of her swinging trapeze act with experienced circus artist Anna Shelper. Whilst developing this act, Spenser received a grant for creative act development from the Australia Council for the Arts.
Between 2007-2013, Spenser taught circus classes in Melbourne for the Women’s Circus, Circus Oz and the Circus Spot. In addition to her teaching she worked as an assistant director and director with Melbourne-based companies and had her directing debut with What Do I Want? for the Women’s Circus in May 2013. Spenser joined the Circus Oz ensemble in August 2013 on the Circus Oz Goes Bush tour of Arnhem Land.
Spenser will be performing with Circus Oz in But Wait… There’s More at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre: 1 – 3 October, before touring to selected regional venues throughout New South Wales. For more Information, visit: www.circusoz.com for details.
Image: Spenser Inwood – photo by Rob Blackburn