The Women’s Circus, as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, presents the premiere of their latest show, Quite Contrary, directed by Debra Batton.
When a chorus of over 100 women take hold of the circus the lines between backstage, upstage, onstage and downstage become blurred. We all know that the women run the show, let us rub your nose in it! Where flying through the air is part of the daily grind/mind, smiling upside down is a face lift, notions of normal are twisted and difference is celebrated.
Quite contrary is mostly performed & crewed by volunteers. Over 100 women ranging from complete beginners to emerging circus performers volunteer their time and energy, drawn together by their strong ownership and love of the Women’s Circus community. In their day to day lives they are students, mothers, lawyers, health professionals, unemployed, public servants, animators, vet nurses, arts workers , it workers, community workers and much more. But for these 2 weeks their lives go on hold as they transform into aerialists, tumblers, jugglers, musicians, riggers, sound crew, bar staff and just about anything else that is needed to produce a circus show.
There will be a fully licensed Bar and Hot home made food!
Venue: Meat Market, 5 Blackwood St, North Melbourne
Season Dates: 23-26 Sept 2010 & 30 Sept-3 Oct 2010 @ 7.30pm
Times/Notes: Doors Open for pre show drinks and performances at 6.30pm with seating from 7.15pm
Tickets: Conc. $27.00, Full $33.00
Bookings: Festival Tickets: 03 9660 9666 or www.melbournefringe.com.au
The WOMEN’S CIRCUS presents HERSTORY (in conjunction with BigWest Festival)
This year the Women’s Circus turns 18, and to celebrate the not-inconsiderable feat of surviving as a community arts organisation in a competitive world, they present HerStory, a tale of what it means to be lost and find yourself, to be earth-bound and learn to fly, to be shy and step out from behind the mask. Using the language of circus interwoven with video projection and a narrative of personal anecdotes, HerStory will take the audience on a wild ride from the Circus’ own birth to her coming of age.
Following the Women’s Circus tradition of performing in unique and unusual venues in the western suburbs, HerStory will be performed at the Living Museum of the West, a significant historical industrial site in the history of Melbourne. HerStory will transform the superbly restored bluestone building and surrounding parkland into a dynamic circus extravaganza with performers roaming the parklands and entertaining guests for an hour prior to the show; and during interval be dazzled by a spectacular fire act in the park.
In conjunction with the show is a free exhibition celebrating 18 years of the Women’s Circus and its influence on the development of contemporary social and physical circus in Australia. The exhibition includes posters, behind the scenes photographs, circus diaries
and costumes, as well as footage from past performances.
Performance Dates: Friday 20 November to Sunday 6 December 2009
Thursday, Nov 19/26, Dec 3, pre-show 7pm, show starts 8pm
Friday, Nov 20/27, Dec 4, pre-show 7pm, show starts 8pm
Saturday, Nov 21/28, Dec 5, pre-show 6pm, show starts 7pm
Sunday, Nov 22/29, Dec 6, matinee, pre-show 1pm, show starts 2pm
Where: Living Museum of the West, Pipemakers Park, Van Ness Avenue, Maribyrnong, Melbourne
Melways Ref: 28B10
Tickets Available to purchase on-line at www.womenscircus.org.au
Full $32 / Conc. $26 / Children $15
Public inquiries: Telephone (03) 9687 3665 or email info@womenscircus.org.au
DISHED UP, a Women’s Circus fundraiser with performances by members of the Women’s Circus community and guest appearances by Miss Flee, DanceSister and Cath Jamison – Woman of Deception.
There will also be a silent auction with some great items to bid on – belly dancing classes, people accommodation, pet accommodation, artworks, books and much more.
When: Saturday 12 September.
Doors open 7pm for 8pm show
Where: Women’s Circus, Drill Hall, 395 Barkly Street West Footscray (cnr Gordon St), Melbourne, Australia
Tickets:$15 (at the door) so get in early to ensure a good spot
Parking: Free parking available on Barkly Street or its short walk from West Footscray Station
La Petite Mort – The Orgasm
After a raging season at Melbourne Fringe La Petite Mort – The Orgasm is returning to the festival circuit, for one night only, as a fundraiser for The Women’s Circus and as part of The Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
La Petite Mort – the Orgasm is a cabaret journey through love, science, medicine, sex, erotica and song. Prepare for a post-coital smoke after this foxy ride.
The biggest draw here is Hertaeg’s powerful voice, she quickly sets a sultry mood and is well on her way to becoming one strong cabaret diva” (Australian Stage)
Women’s Circus – Drill Hall – 395 Barkly Street, Footscray, Melbourne
Sunday 26 April 2009 – 5pm
Full $20, Conc $15 (Women’s Circus members Full $15, Conc $10)
Bookings: No Bookings, Door sales only
http://womenscircus.org.au/
This role involves managing the annual training program, overseeing with potential to direct performances, liaising with all departments, developing the performance budget in collaboration with other key Circus personnel, and working with the Outreach Program Director to deliver the annual program to client groups in the broader community.
Applications close: Friday, April 24, 2009
womenscircus.org.au
