Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association::January 2008 Newsletter

One of the aims of this Conference is to support professional, contemporary clowns and to develop their work, so we are thrilled to present master-classes with internationally respected clowning and physical theatre expert, Emil Wolk, as part of our continuing effort to address the need for national, world-class clown training in Australia. Emil brings a skill set that combines knowledge of both character and acrobatic-based clowning, and other forms of physical theatre, vaudeville and comedy, all in combination with a thorough knowledge of main-stage theatre. The knowledge shared with our performing community will be invaluable!
The master-class will occur across two half days of the Conference, ensuring delegates are still able to attend and take part in other Conference programming. Its focus will be to work with circus and physical theatre artists who currently have a work in progress, and who feel they would benefit from Emil's experience in developing their work.

The company’s approach was at the vanguard of the emerging artistic form we now recognize as contemporary circus. In 1988, Emil directed the “Circus Oz Bicentenary Show” with Robyn Laurie, a show which cemented Circus Oz’s reputation as Australia’s flagship contemporary circus company. More recently, Emil has moved to Australia, and is collaborating with the Leaping Loonies to further develop their comedic skills.

Other credits in the contemporary circus genre include performing for London’s The Kosh; directing/choreographing the outdoor performance piece, “The Spurting Man”; and working with Swamp Circus. He has choreographed specialty acrobatic routines for operas and musicals, such as The English National Opera (Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream) and The Scottish Opera (Papagano’s vaudeville routines in The Magic Flute). He has performed on the BBC with Spike Milligan, and more recently played the ringmaster in “True Tilda” for Portobello Pictures, which screened on the BBC; and in 1992, he played Ariel in Peter Greenaway’s “Prospero’s Books”.

Emil’s unique skills can be seen in his training influences, which combine traditional acrobatic clowning with some of the late 20th century’s greatest contemporary performance makers.

Arabella Spencer Churchill, philanthropist, charity director and festival organiser:
born October 30 1949; died December 20 2007

ACAPTA extends it's deepest sympathy to Haggis Mc Leod in his bereavement.

Arabella Spencer-Churchill was a true friend and supporter of Circus in the UK and around the world. She has also contributed greatly to disadvantaged young people throughout the world both directly and via the charity that she established-Children's World International.

Through her courageous programming of circus acts at the Glastonbury Festival in the early eighties, when no-one had heard of new circus, she provided a fantastic showcase for the rising generation of performers. The circus field at Glastonbury continued to grow through the years, creating a space where performers from all over the world would meet to watch each other's work, share stories of their travels and swap creative ideas.

She will be sadly missed.
Our thoughts are with Haggis and the children at this sad time.
The Committee and staff of ACAPTA.
Obituary - The Guardian
Obituary - Times Online
Wikipedia entry

SATURDAY 1 MARCH
The Antipodean Circus Movement: Is there an Australian Circus Style? Chaired by Peta Tait, speakers include Mike Finch, Jane Mullet, Joel Salom, Andrea Lemon and Daniel Aubin.
Getting and Staying on the Road: The Challenges and Issues Facing International Touring Companies Today. Speakers include John Lambert, Paul McGill, David Clarkson and Simon Yates.
Community Circus Meet and Greet. An opportunity to meet up and network with others working in the community.

SUNDAY 2 MARCH
Circus and Dance: A Breadth of Styles. Speakers include Peta Johnson, Kate Champion and Kim Baston.
Circus and Spectacle: Circus's Renewed Role in Mass Celebration. Chaired by Michelle Buxton, speakers include Sue Broadway, Debra Batton and Elena Vereker.
Creating Networks: Companies and Career Pathways. A chance to chat about what really happens in the circus world - local, regional, national and international trends.

MONDAY 3 MARCH
Circus and Theatre: How do They Generate New Meanings and Stories? Chaired by Bill Blaikie, speakers include Jodie Farrugia, Kate Fryer and Celia White.
Training for Trainers Information Session. A Discussion about the continuing education models for graduating circus enthusiasts.
Workshop: Trainers Tips and Tricks. An interactive workshop to share skills about ways of teaching and ways of learning. Sign up on the day, numbers limited.
Conference Gala(h)! @ the Umbrella Revolution. A Night of Spontaneous Mayhem, hosted by Stacey and Tracey of OzStar Airlines (see information below about performing).

TUESDAY 4 MARCH
Small Companies Information Session. Chaired by Antonella Casella, speakers include John Baylis (Australia Council), John Paxinos (Auspicious Arts) and Tony Rooke.
Conference Wrap Up. Your last chance to share opinions and debate ideas.
ACAPTA Annual General Meeting. All financial ACAPTA Members are invited to take part. Please check with the office to insure that your membership will not lapse prior to the AGM.

In addition to these discussion topics, a number of informal opportunities will be facilitated to encourage an ongoing dialogue and networking opportunities, including the chance to hear from academics about their studies on and around circus and physical theatre. And, at the end of each day, the conversation will continue informally with drinks and fun (at venues to be confirmed closer to the Conference).

CONFERENCE GALA(H) - GET INVOLVED!
Get ready for a night of Spontaneous Mayhem, hosted by Stacey and Tracey of OzStar Airlines at the wonderful Umbrella Revolution in the Garden of Unearthly Delights on Monday 3 March from 10pm. If you’re interested in strutting your stuff on this fun and informal night, EMAIL

or pass the word on to your friends and colleagues who will be in Adelaide during this time.

HEAD TO HEAD ON FACEBOOK
Add the event Head To Head to your facebook profile to receive regular updates and keep in touch with others from the circus and physical theatre community (search for event Head To Head).

Registering for the conference is easy and can be done in one of two ways:
1. Print out and complete the REGISTRATION FORM, return it via email or post and pay the registration fee via paypal or post a cheque/money order.
2. Alternatively, complete the ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM and then pay the registration fee via paypal or post a cheque/money order.

Significant discounts apply for ACAPTA Members (full membership is $15, youth membership $5) and group discounts are also available, please EMAIL Freya to discuss.

ALL ABOUT ADELAIDE – GENERAL CITY INFORMATION
To download this information about Adelaide as a PDF (112k)- Click Here

KEY DATES AND EVENTS
1 – 4 March, Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Conference www.acapta.net
29 February – 16 March, International Arts Festival www.adelaidefestival.com.au
7 – 9 March, Womadelaide www.womadelaide.com.au
22 February – 16 March, Adelaide Fringe Festival www.adelaidefringe.com.au
29 – 2 March, Adelaide International Busking Festival see Fringe website
27 – 29 February, Fuse Festival see Fringe website

GETTING TO AND FROM ADELAIDE
Air
Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin and Tiger Airways all fly to Adelaide. The airport is eight kilometres from the centre of the city, a 15-minute drive. It services regional, domestic and international travellers in one building. The average cost of a taxi from the airport to city centre is $15. Skylink Shuttle operates between the airport, city and interstate Rail Terminal. Cost is $7.50. JetBus links the airport and the city and some suburbs.

Road – car and bus
The main coach terminal in Adelaide is the Central Bus Station at Franklin Street, Adelaide. All interstate and intrastate coaches depart from and arrive at this terminal.
If you’re travelling by car, some distances to Adelaide are: Brisbane – Adelaide, 2050 km; Sydney – Adelaide, 1430 km; Melbourne – Adelaide, 750 km; Perth – Adelaide, 2730 km and Darwin – Adelaide, 3050 km. Once in Adelaide, parking can be hard to come by and expensive in the inner-city (though famously, parking fines are strangely low!).

Train
The interstate trains The Overland, The Ghan and the Indian Pacific arrive and depart from the Keswick Rail Terminal, located on Richmond Road, Keswick (three kilometres from the city centre). See www.gsr.com.au for timetables and costs.

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The Second ACAPTA Youth Circus Newsletter is now online. It has been a busy year and Youth Circus continues to grow and develop. Please let everyone you know who is in any way connected with Youth Circus know about the newsletter. ACAPTA wants to put together a comprehensive list of every youth circus group in Australia to assist young people to access training opportunities near them. You can find the newsletter at: http://www.acapta.net/10_youth/youthcircus_newsletters/ycn_2.html

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The Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association seeks a

Program Director

Applications Close:	Monday, February 25, 2008
Employer:	ACAPTA-Australian Circus & Physical Theatre Assc.
Location:	North Melbourne, Victoria
Salary:	$45, 000 - $50,000 pro rata
Web Site:	www.acapta.net
ACAPTA is the key advocacy and support body for the Australian contemporary circus sector. We are seeking an experienced and energetic arts administrator to lead the association in the next exciting phase of development.
A full position description is available at: http://www.acapta.net/02_news/Program_Director_descrip.pdf
Please email a CV with your application and address the selection criteria. Contact: Tess Waters (from Feb. 5, 2008) Phone: + 61 3 9329 9600 Fax: + 61 3 9329 968 Selet Tess Waters from the drop down menu on the contact form Please note - in the lead up to our National Conference the office is only attended on a part time basis.

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This is your last chance to head off to the Wild West for the

2008 Western Australian Circus Festival - February 1st -3rd

The three-day event will feature non-stop entertainment from noon to midnight.

It will be a bigger and better event jam-packed with national and international performance.
Circus, music, comedy, cabaret nights at the Dr. Reg Bolton Bar.

Taster workshops, tasty food, on-site camping plus the occasional lunar surprise!
Ticket Prices
Adult One Day: $40 Adult Weekend: $90
Child One Day: $25 Child Weekend: $50
Family Weekend 2 Adults & 2 Children: $200

Ticket Price Includes On-Site Camping
Tickets available from 15th November at the following outlets:

78 Records Perth (93226384)
Mills Records Fremantle(93351945)
Swell Sounds Margaret River
Blue62 Busselton (97523522)
Nobs Music Bunbury (97215677)

Tickets at Gate Plus 10% - Tickets at Outlets + Booking fee.

No Fires - No Dogs - No BYO (Licenced event)
For information and registration go to:
http://www.lunarcircus.com

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FLIPSIDE CIRCUS and Strut n Fret present “XTREME POPERA”
When: 29th Feb-9th March 2008
Where: Adelaide Fringe Festival
Venue: Umbrella Revolutions, The Garden of Unearthly Delights

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