Tell us about the first time you saw a circus show….
We love the circus here at Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane, and it turns out, so do all the circus artists we know! We’re so excited for CIRCFest 22 Meanjin, so we went to all the circus performers and asked them to tell us about the first time they saw a circus show, or glimpsed a clown, or found the magic of the circus stage…
Karen Lee Roberts is a creative Chameleon
For a show about a subject as serious as mental health/ mental wellness, Chameleon is quite light- hearted throughout. There are darker moments, and people do shed tears, but you will definitely get your fair share of belly laughs and giggles in this cabaret. It has been written to not take one’s self too seriously, and has some absolutely hilarious scenes unfold.
What does circus mean to you?
If you haven’t heard, Brisneyland is getting it’s very own circus festival - thehighly anticipated CIRCFest22 Meanjin. Circus for young folk, for those looking for an extravagant night on the town, for lively teens, for sweet and shy people, for those with a sick sense of humour, circus for everyone! We’ve gone out to some of the incredible artists that will be performing across the festival from April 21 to May 1, and we asked them, what does circus mean to you?
“We give a platform to the best improv and comedy shows.” Rosa Sottile on Big Fork Theatre’s dedicated comedy theatre
There are so many great shows on. Every week we have totally new improv shows and also regular stand-up and variety shows! If you want to see improv for the first time I would recommend our classic improv format, ‘Cool Story Bro’ on Friday nights. It’s Big Fork’s flagship show. True stories inspire hilarious improv scenes! Some other particularly exciting shows coming up are the BrisAsia Festival shows – ‘BrisAsia Stands Up’ and ‘Wer Ya From’. We also have some great Brisbane regular shows coming to the theatre like ‘Stand Up vs Improviser’ and ‘Freak Box’, and our first show making a comeback ‘Get It Inya’, an experimental comedy show!
A fundamental guide to bullet proofing your grant process
Grants are something that are not for the faint of heart. They take grit, commitment, self-confidence, honesty and passion. I was not expecting it to become something that I really enjoy doing, like I love the learning, the process, the people and the projects and that’s why many writers do it. Although we are few and far between, we share commonalities and have similar experiences. There are definitely dos and don’ts along the way – for how we engage with you and how you engage with us.
"If you're looking for a bit of an escape, Cab Suave is the place to go!" Abby Kelso on Sparkle Society's reimagining of film noir with a circus twist
Cab Suave isn't just a cabaret, it has a full storyline that will have you engaged and wanting to know what happens next, and interesting characters with personality and charm. Combining circus with live music and theatre, it's cheesy and funny and doesn't take itself too seriously. If you're looking for a bit of an escape after the last few years, Cab Suave is the place to go!
"We were looking for ways and spaces where all our different musical pursuits could coexist and combine…" Connor D’Netto on NONSTOP
It’s easy for people to assume certain types of music to exist in a certain place, presented in a certain way, and maybe even listened to by certain people. That’s so limiting on every level. It limits the kind of art artists feel comfortable (or are even allowed) to create; it limits whether people feel comfortable in certain spaces and therefore whether they are able to experience different kinds of art; it limits how people are able to come together, connect and interact.
"It automatically places people in this space of physicality that builds trust." Vulcana Circus on elevating the voices of those less heard
In this interview, co-directors and facilitators Celia White (Vulcana Circus’ Artistic Director) and Michelle Grant-Iramu discuss the process of enabling and empowering a large ensemble of a recently acquainted cohort, the imperative for access to art-making for people with experiences of trauma, truth-telling with a view to elevate the ordinary and making it extraordinary, and how circus is a perfect vessel for transformative art-making.
"Theatre hasn’t always been inclusive for artists and audience of our age." Egan Sun-Bin on The Reaction Theory and creating works about the mid-20's experience
When it was first written, this was Zoey [Dawon]’s first real play and being a new writer in the industry and leaving her drama school, she was feeling so much pressure. That’s how we all feel right now. We want to make a name for ourselves and be a working artist but it’s tough and anxiety inducing and coming straight out of that pandemic, this anxiety is very real for us. It’s us right now. The actors and creatives are feeling scared about our future and in this play, you will see exactly that.
Rumble presents The Pageant: Choose your champion and release your inner woo girl
"What I love is that this show fully leans into the chaos and encourages the contenders to fly by the seat of their pants, which is very entertaining for the audience because you never know what you're going to see! As a contender, it's equally exciting because you can only prepare so much going into it before the carry-on takes over. It feels like catching a wave and quickly realising you're surfing in a tsunami!"
"We didn’t have any role models or people that looked like us." Tyson Goddard on Rhythmology
“Sexuality is meant to be generous; people can forget it is, but we know it is and want to express this. Rhythmology is Unapologetic Sexuality! And rightfully so.”
Meanjin is Burning: Ella Ganza and the local Ballroom community on the upcoming Alexander Ball. "I want Meanjin to be the capital of Ballroom in Australia."
Ballroom and the Ball is everything that is fashion, that is high-energy. It is going to be that
event you never knew you needed until you go. You don’t have to be a Queer person, a Person of
Colour, or a Queer Person of Colour to appreciate Ballroom. Because what it also stands for individuality. We don’t want another so-and-so. We want you to be authentically you. That’s why for me Ballroom is that one place where you are guaranteed to be jaw-dropped. You’ll leave saying you never knew how much you needed it in your life.
"If you want to get acquainted with the independent art scene in Brisbane, this is a great place to do it" - Angela Peita and Lauren Hale on RuckusFest.
We've always really strongly believed that anybody can make art and in whatever realm, that everyone has an interesting story to tell. This festival is about giving people an opportunity to play with that, but also to meet other people that want to play with. You don't have to be good at it, you can just enjoy it and get involved with it. And the kind of natural outcome of that is you're hanging out with other people who are interested in those things, so you’re making communities.”
"I would have loved to have read these stories when I was young" - Virag Dombay
In each section there are at least two stories from the child’s perspective that links in with that particular emotion. And that was so important to me, because there are not really many books for young people available to consume about grief or despair that aren’t Disneyfied. And that’s important for adults to consume as well, that this child’s story is in the grief section, and that this kid experiences so much.
"How often do women get to play these roles? And more, how often do audiences get to see this?" Liliana Macarone on playing THE romantic hero in Qld Shakespeare Ensemble's 'Romeo & Juliet'.
I think people would be more accepting of a female Richard III doing villainous things, than a female Romeo wooing a young girl. And this is surely the reason why I never expected the opportunity to play Romeo. Also, our culture tends to pigeon-hole full-bodied women (I am not physically boyish), and limit what women can play once they hit their 40s, which in my opinion really makes this representation significant. It’s exhilarating to get to play the romantic hero – with all his freedom and agency – winning the girl and defying the stars! How often do women get to play these roles? And more, how often do audiences get to see this?
An Origin Story
The name is a tongue in cheek statement about the art in Brisbane. I’ve lived here on and off and passed through town for nigh on thirty years since I was tiny. There is this pervasive myth, the myth of the Deep North, that nothing actually happens here. That because you can’t find it on the main street, it doesn’t exist. But Brisbane has a virulent, passionate artistic history.
"Some people have likened impro to a drug because it is so addictive." Wade Robinson riffs on magic of impro and the upcoming Theatresport Grand Championships.
Sylvia spoke with show director Wade Robinson to find out more about impro and Theatresports. He also dishes on the upcoming Theatresports Grand Championships where the best improvisors from Brisbane and beyond will battle it out in the upcoming in a side-splitting showdown of quick wits, fast thinking and comedy clout.
"I make work that is reflective of my own experiences or a journey I am trying to take." Chelsea McGuffin on the creation of her new work, Hysteria.
I make work which is reflective of my own experiences or a journey I am trying to take. In Hysteria I feel like I am playing one of the physical storytellers. It feels very empowering to reflect my own experiences through someone else's story.
Five Emerging Collectives to Look Out For
Virag Dombay puts her ear to ground and spills the beans on five exciting performance collectives you oughta be keeping a close eye on.
"People like the darkside, but they are afraid to show it." - Madeline Glasseater on making a feast out of occult and sideshow
A cult-theme sideshow but with burlesque, striptease, and danger. There’ll be lots of fire, sharp things, even a little bit of acrobatics which is a bit cute. Putting that all together will be like in a haunted mansion with paranormal activity. We wanted to do a really big theatre show for once and put it up on a big stage and use that to our advantage.