One of three panel discussions as part of the Circus Cityprogram looking at the future of Australian circus.

The conversation will centre on a question for the sector of “What landscapeare we creating for the next generation of circus artists?”

The panel, moderated by Josh Hoare, will feature Jodie Farrugia, Skye Gellmann, Jo Lancaster, Yaron Lifschitz, Pixi Robertson, Rob Tannion, Davey Thompson and Simon Yates. Expect a lively and passionate conversation as the sector looks toward the future.

acrobat (Jo Lancaster and Simon Yates) has been creating unique circus and physical theatre works since the mid 90's. Raw and without compromise, acrobat's works blend astonishing acrobatic technique with a highly personal vision of modern society. Without pose, décor or costumes, their works put performers at the core and in doing so, are both incredibly human and the antidote for glamorous circus trends. The sense of self-derision that emerges from each of their productions is typically Australian, always mixing acrobatic perfection with a ferocious, dry sense of humour.

Jodie Farrugia is the Artistic Director of The Flying Fruit Fly Circus. She has extensive experience working as a performer, educator, theatre director and choreographer with leading companies. Highlights include: Legs on The Wall, NICA, Contact Dance Company, Circus Monoxide, Circus Oz, Tasdance, Women’s Circus, The Victorian College of the Arts, QL2 Youth Dance Company and Deakin University.Jodie’s work has toured throughout Australia, Europe and Asia.

Over the past 10 years Jodie has directed a number of successful productions for the Flying Fruit Fly Circus including: Circus Girl, awarded the National Drover Awards for excellence,Control Alt Delete and Circus Under My Bed. Jodie is directing the company’s new work JUNK which will be presented at the Sydney Opera House in 2017.

Skye Gellmann is an Australian artist known for their investigation of circus arts. Since studying at Cirkidz and the National Institute of Circus Arts, Skye has gone on to create 10 award winning performance works that have toured throughout Australia and Europe. Within their work we encounter a “decentralised space” where the artist’s body, spectacle and circus iconography are exposed and dislocated. Through this, Skye’s work highlights circus’ potential to communicate on levels outside of dominant paradigms, carving out new spaces for the deeply experiential.

Yaron Lifschitz is a graduate of UNSW, NIDA and UQ. He is the Artistic Director and CEO of Circa and the Creative Director of the arts and cultural program of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Yaron has directed over 60 productions including large-scale events, opera, theatre, physical theatre and circus. With Circa, Yaron has created works such asby the light of stars that are no longer…, CIRCA, Wunderkammer, How Like an Angel, “S”, Beyond, Opus, Carnival of the Animals, Il Ritorno, TROPPOandReclaimed Pianos. His work has been seen in 35 countries and has won numerous awards.

Pixi Robertson trained as a classical dancer before learning and performing the Risley Act with Alfie Warren and the Flying Warrens; aerial ballet and elephant riding with Robert Bros Circus, in England and Scotland; various aerial acts, flying trapeze and clowning with Ashton’s Circus, Frank Gasser’s Swiss Circus Royale and Silvers Circus among others.

Pixi was a founding member of New Ensemble Circus and Circus Oz. She was Co-Artistic Associate and circus skills teacher at the inaugural Flying Fruit Fly Circus and strength and flexibility teacher/school teacher for Stardust Circus. She has been the Oceania co-ordinator for World Circus Day since 2012, a jury member of the Australian Circus Festival in 2014 and 2016, and a co-organiser of the event for 2017.

Pixi is an advocate for closer ties between all circus sectors and the recognition of, and respect for, traditional forms and the cultural lifestyle of classic circus, including animal performers.

Rob Tannion is the Artistic Director of Circus Oz. He is a versatile and visually dynamic director/choreographer who has spent the past 20 plus years living, working, performing, directing in the UK, across Europe and Latin America. His professional career has flowed between circus, physical theatre, dance, site specific theatre, large scale musicals and corporate events; further informing his own artistic voice and vision. Rob has been addictively directing circus for the past 10 years, from small to large scale, contemporary to commercial, theatres to big tops, and is passionate about how we can nurture its future.

Davey Thompson is a proud Bidjara, Inningai, Wakka Wakka, Gubbi Gubbi man from Barcaldine, Queensland. He attended the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts where he majored in Acting. He went into festival producing and event planning before running away to join the creative team at Circus Oz, where he now drives the Indigenous Engagement Strategy, empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people nationally through circus. Davey is a passionate activist, writer and performer.

Josh Hoare isArtistic Director at the South Australian Circus Centre (home of Cirkidz), Josh is a passionate director/educator working in circus and physical theatre. As a trained linguist, Josh is fascinated by the truths that circus bodies have access to, unavailable in verbal communication. With a vision of contributing to intercultural awareness he has worked in Europe, China, and Turkey. Spectacle work includes OzAsia's Moon Lantern Festival, 2016, as well as works commissioned for Adelaide Festival Centre’s ‘Something on Saturdays’ programming. Works for SA Circus Centre include We the Unseen (2015), Nest, and Sputnikz (2013).

For a copy of the Circus City program, click here. 

Note: Registered patrons must sign in at least 15 minutes before the start time or their positions may be reallocated to another person.

Photo:Gravity And Other Myths, in rehearsal