Women's Circus
The Women's Circus, a feminist not for profit organisation, provides circus performance training and social arts projects for women, trans, and non-binary people in the western region of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Training programs focus on the physical and imaginative potential of the human body, self-awareness and self-esteem. It has a history of original productions with social, educational, and health themes related to women's lives.
History
The inspiration for the Women's Circus was built on the work of an earlier Wimmins Circus, Australia's first women's circus established in Melbourne, which ran from 1978 to 1981.
The Women's Circus began in 1991, as an initiative of the Footscray Community Arts Centre, offering training and performance projects. Women recognised as founders include Donna Jackson, director; Sally Forth, trainer; and Elizabeth Walsh, director of the Footscray Community Arts Centre. Jean Taylor, who joined the Women's Circus in 1991, went on to establish the Performing Older Women's Circus in 1995.
The Women's Circus toured Beijing in 1995 as part of the United Nation's Conference on Women, and performed and ran workshops in regional France in 2012. It has won several awards from Arts Victoria and the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
In 2006, the organisation moved to the Drill Hall, Footscray, and started receiving support from the Maribyrnong City Council.
Training
In addition to intermediate and advanced training programs, the circus offers a program for people who have no experience in circus training. Participants learn a range of skills, including hula-hooping, juggling, trapeze, swings, acro-balance, climbing and tumbling.
Publications
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Productions
Past productions include:The Drill | Director: Penelope Bartlau, 2019Night Circus | Director: Penelope Bartlau, 2017Fluidity | Director: Penelope Bartlau, 2017The Penelopiad | Director: Steph Kehoe, 2016Soar | Director: Steph Kehoe, 2013What Do I Want? | Director: Spenser Inwood, 2013Red Hot Flush | Director: Deb Batton, 2012Leggings are Not Pants | Director: Sarah Pheasant, 2012Out of the Box | Director: Franca Stadler, 2012Snakes and Ladders | Director: Deb Batton, 2011Ladies Prefer Brunettes | Director: Sarah Pheasant, 2011Quite Contrary | Director: Deb Batton, 2010Melbourne City Baths Show | Directors: Sarah Pheasant & Franca Stadler, 2010Betty | Director: Felicia O’Brien, 2010Herstory | Director: Felicia O’Brien, 2009Here, Where We’ve Always Been | Director: Nadia Kotisch, 2008Antechamber | Director: Annie Davey, 2007A Plane Without Wings is a Rocket | Director: Annie Davey, 2006Daddy | Director: Donna Jackson, 2005Maribyrnong Pool Opening Show | Director: Donna Jackson, 2005Sacred | Director: Kate Sulan, 2004Odditorium | Director: Andrea Lemon, 2003Ghosts | Director: Andrea Lemon, 2003Secrets | Director: Sarah Cathcart, 2001The Island | Director: Sarah Cathcart, 2000Lilith | Director: Sarah Cathcart, 1999Night Flying | Director: Sarah Cathcart 1999Soles of Our Feet | Director: Sarah Cathcart 1998Swimming with Sharks | Director: Sarah Cathcart 1998Pope Joan | Director: Sarah Cathcart, 1997Leaping the Wire | Director: Donna Jackson, 1995Death, The Musical | Director: Donna Jackson, 1994Women and Sport | Director: Donna Jackson, 1993Women and Work | Director: Donna Jackson, 1992Women and Institutions | Director: Donna Jackson, 1991